Sports Krunch w/DKROM: Recent Episodes
Sports Krunch
DKROM is a Chicago based Sportswriter & sportscaster with a near encyclopedic knowledge of all things NFL. We here at Sports Krunch with DKrom enforce our “No Spin” policy 24/7/365, and do our absolute best to help all of you football fans cut through the spin and get to the truth. Sports Krunch will cover all the important stories you may have missed in the NFL universe. Sports Krunch will regularly have very influential and knowledgeable guests. So be on the lookout for the next episode and be sure to subscribe!
- NFC North
-Have you ever seen a better situation for a #1 overall pick to walk into? What can Bears fans realistically expect from Caleb Williams in his rookie season?
-Do you think Kiran Amegadjie makes more sense as a long-term replacement for Braxton Jones at LT, or as a long-term replacement for Teven Jenkins at guard?
-How good of a chance do you think Austin Booker has to develop into Montez Sweat's long-term bookend for the Bears?
-What makes J.J. McCarthy and Kevin O'Connell a hand-in-glove fit schematically speaking?
-What makes Dallas Turner potentially worth this massive price (six total picks) for the Vikings?
-Do you anticipate Jordan Morgan being the Packers starting left tackle come Week 1 or do you see him starting his NFL career inside?
-If one of Edgerrin Cooper or Javon Bullard (or both) makes a solid contribution this season, can we be very confident that this Packers defense finally plays up to their potential after two underwhelming years?
-Would it be a massive disappointment if this 2024 Lions defense isn't the best D Dan Campbell has had in his time in Detroit thus far?
-Would you be surprised to see either Christian Mahogany or Mekhi Wingo (or both) as a full-time starter in 2025?
- NFC East
-Why do you think the Commanders decided to go with Jayden Daniels over Drake Maye?
-Even if it doesn't show up on the stat sheet, should we expect a pretty sizable impact from Ben Sinnott this season?
-Would you bet on both Tyrone Tracy, Jr. and Theo Johnson becoming foundational pieces for this Giants offense along with Malik Nabers?
-If Tyler Nubin and/or Andru Phillips makes a solid impact this year, are the Giants likely a top-12 defense or better?
-In 2023, the Eagles surrendered 35 TD passes and only intercepted 9. With Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean now in the fold, how much should we expect those numbers to improve in Philly's favor this season?
-What makes Jalyx Hunt such an intriguing project for Vic Fangio to work with?
-Do you anticipate Cooper Beebe starting at the pivot for Dallas in 2024?
-How optimistic should the Cowboys be about Marshawn Kneeland becoming a long-term defensive cornerstone like Demarcus Lawrence has been?
- NFC South
-Was Xavier Legette's breakout campaign last year a fluke or was it a sign of things to come?
-Do you think Jonathon Brooks is likely to be the centerpiece of the Panthers offense in Year 1 of the Dave Canales era?
-If Kirk Cousins shows even the slightest signs of decline between now and 2026, should the Falcons hand the reins over to Michael Penix, Jr. two years from now?
-We all know Raheem Morris can maximize defensive talent, thus are you bullish on two of these three picks (Ruke Orhorhoro, Bralen Trice, Brandon Dorlus) being hits?
-Are you at least somewhat puzzled by Taliese Fuaga's schematic fit with the Saints?
-If the 2024 season goes south for the Saints, should they be willing to start Spencer Rattler for say 3-5 games?
-What does Graham Barton offer the Bucs from Day 1 and how much improvement should we expect from their running game this season?
-Do you think Chris Braswell has what it takes to become a full-time starter for the Bucs?
- NFC West
-How does Darius Robinson improve this Cardinals defensive front from Day 1 and what is the best way to utilize him?
-What made Trey Benson stand out from all the other running backs in this class and do you believe he's fully capable of shouldering a heavier workload at the NFL level?
-Is it fair to expect a DROY level performance from Byron Murphy this year?
-Can you see Blake Corum getting 35-40% of the carries for the Rams this year?
-What makes Ricky Pearsall the ideal WR for a Kyle Shanahan offense?
-Would you be surprised to see both Renardo Green and Malik Mustapha end up as starters for the 49ers by 2025, if not sooner?
- AFC East
-If you're the Patriots, would you be willing to start Jacoby Brissett for half the season or longer in order to benefit Drake Maye long-term?
-In your view, how good of a start did the Patriots get in building the nest for Drake Maye?
-Was taking Olu Fashanu over Brock Bowers the more prudent move for the Jets?
-Can you see Malachi Corley automatically upgrading the role vacated by Randall Cobb in the Jets WR room?
-In your view, does Chop Robinson have what it takes to develop into an every-down defender, or is it more likely he ends up as a designated pass rusher at the NFL level?
-Which two of those four Dolphins picks (Patrick Paul, Jaylen Wright, Mohamed Kamara, Malik Washington) are most likely to hit and why?
-Do you think Josh Allen has what it takes in order to get the most out of Keon Coleman?
-Why should Bills Mafia be bullish on Cole Bishop being a long-term fixture at the safety position?
- AFC North
-Would it be highly ideal if Amarius Mims has a redshirt rookie year to fully focus on getting his body into NFL shape?
-Do you have ample optimism any of these Bengals selections (Kris Jenkins, Jermaine Burton, Erick All) become long-term pieces for the Bengals?
-Can you see Michael Hall, Jr. evolving into a three-down player down the road?
-Both Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier figure to be Day 1 starters, but Mason McCormick has a ways to go as he finds himself behind James Daniels and Isaac Seumalo on the depth chart. That said, can you see all three of them as starters in 2025?
-How well have the Steelers set up Russell Wilson and/or Justin Fields for success this season?
-How does Nate Wiggins fit into the Ravens mold?
-Can you see Roger Rosengarten as the long-term successor to Ronnie Stanley?
- AFC South
-In your view, is J.C. Latham's best fit at the NFL level at tackle or guard?
-Do you think T'Vondre Sweat can be more than a mere rotational piece on the Titans DL?
-Does the addition of Laiatu Latu give the Colts one of the NFL's top-five defensive front fours?
-Character questions aside, what does Adonai Mitchell bring to the Colts receiving corps that was lacking last year, and do you see him getting the starting job on the boundary opposite Michael Pittman, Jr.?
-Do you think the Jaguars WR room this year (BTJ, Kirk, Gabe Davis) is better than last years (Ridley, Kirk, Zay Jones)?
-How do Kamari Lassiter and Calen Bullock immediately help upgrade a Texans pass defense that was pretty leaky outside of Derek Stingley, Jr. last season?
-Can you see the Texans Week 1 starting OL including Blake Fisher at RT with Tytus Howard kicking inside to guard?
- AFC West
-Aside from meeting the value at 5, why is Joe Alt a better fit for the Chargers than J.C. Latham?
-Health permitting, can you see Ladd McConkey emerging as Justin Herbert's top target in the passing game and catching 75-80 passes his rookie season?
-What makes Bo Nix such a hand-in-glove fit for Sean Payton's offense?
-Of those four Broncos picks (Jonah Elliss, Troy Frankloin, Kris Abrams-Draine, Audric Estime), which one do you see as most likely to grow into a core piece?
-Should the Raiders eventually plan to utilize Brock Bowers in a very similar role as they currently utilize Davante Adams schematically speaking?
-Based on their selections of Jackson Powers-Johnson and Delmar Glaze, do you think the Raiders are aiming for a run-first identity on offense under Antonio Pierce, even though they have an abundance of skill position talent?
-Do you see Andy Reid plugging Xavier Worthy into that DJax role right off the bat?
-Assuming the Chiefs don't make a veteran addition at the LT position, do you think Kingsley Suamataia has a decent chance to beat out Wanya Morris for that job?
-How bullish are you about Jared Wiley cementing himself as the long-term heir to Travis Kelce by 2026?
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If you were making the pick for the Commanders at 2, which QB would you select and why?
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As NFL insider Benjamin Allbright reported last Thursday, there are people in that New England front office that want to trade back and stockpile future draft capital, but owner Robert Kraft, who's 82 years old, wants a QB badly. Whose course of action do you personally prefer the Patriots to take: Kraft's or the front office's? Can you see the two sides coming to a compromise in which they trade down with the Vikings and then trade back up to the 5-8 range and get QB4 (most likely J.J. McCarthy)? That's exactly what Monti Ossenfort and the Cardinals did last year.
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If you're the Cardinals, would you stand pat at 4 if the Vikings don't give you a package that's equal in value to the Trey Lance package? On the flip side, if you're the Vikings in that scenario, do you bite the bullet and give up both firsts along with next year's first to get to 4 or 5, or are you willing to wait until pick 7 or 8 to make your move?
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On a scale of 1-10, how dumb would such a big trade-up for QB4 be for the Broncos?
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Do you think the Chargers would be making a massive mistake if they indeed pass on three of the most talented WR prospects to enter the NFL in recent years?
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If you're Bears GM Ryan Poles, what would your preferred course of action tomorrow night be: A: Make the trade-up to 3 for Marvin Harrison, Jr., B: Trade one of those 2025 2's to move up to say 7 or 8 in order to land Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze, or C: Stand pat at 9 and try to trade back if the board falls a certain way?
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Buy Or Sell
-Washington QB Michael Penix, Jr. will be a first-round pick
-At least 22 of the 32 first-round picks will be offensive players, breaking the all-time NFL Draft record of 19
-More than 6 trades will be made tomorrow night, including the Cardinals moving up from 27 for a top-flight corner, and the Commanders packaging one or both of their second-round picks to move into the late 'teens/early 20's for an offensive tackle
-Texas DT Byron Murphy will be the first defensive player off the board, either going at 8 to the Falcons or at 9 to the Bears
-Texas WR Xavier Worthy will be the fourth WR off the board
-Either the Jaguars or Colts will trade up to 8 with the Falcons or to 9 with the Bears to select whichever of the top 3 WR is still remaining
-The Los Angeles Rams will select a QB on Day 2 or 3
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Which team would you say is under the most pressure to come away with a good draft haul this weekend?
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"What we THINK will happen" first-round mock draft (trades allowed)
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One area of Caleb Williams' game that needs to be ironed out is his over-reliance on out-of-structure plays. However, as ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes noted, whenever Caleb had to play in-structure at USC, he proved he is more than capable of doing so. Do you agree with her view? Another knock on Caleb Williams is that he tried to be Superman far too often, always looking for the home run play as opposed to taking what the defense gives him. However, a big reason for that could've been the overall supporting cast at USC. In all 8 of his career losses with the Trojans, the defense surrendered an average of 43 points per game. Do you think going to a team like the Bears, who have an ascending defense, can help him tremendously in out-growing his habit of being on the high dive far too often?
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Why do you think the NFL seems to not be as high on Drake Maye as draft media is?
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How bullish or bearish are you on Jayden Daniels' long-term NFL outlook, especially if he ends up going to the Commanders at 2?
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What on J.J. McCarthy's game tape suggests he's worth spending a high first-round pick on and if you don't see such evidence, what do you think the NFL sees that you don't?
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What do you think of the potential fit of Bo Nix in a Sean Payton offense?
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Joel Klatt, who is the color analyst for college football on Fox believes that if Michael Penix, Jr. is surrounded by a similar cache of talent at the NFL level as he was at Washington, he has an excellent chance to be even more productive than Brock Purdy and Tua Tagovailoa. Do you agree with Joel's assessment?
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On a scale of 1-10, how strong is the case for Spencer Rattler being the first QB off the board on Day 2?
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In your opinion, which QB out of Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, or J.J. McCarthy should be the Commanders pick at 2? Washington also has a glaring deficiency at OT as their current depth chart consists of Braeden Daniels, Cornelius Lucas, Andrew Wylie and Trent Scott. If you're Adam Peters, do you try extra hard to package your two second-round picks (36 and 40) to move up into the late 'teens or early 20's to select a tackle?
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What do you think is the better plan for the Giants: trading up to 3 or 4 to select Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy, or taking one of the stud WR's at 6 and using their second-round pick on Michael Penix, Jr.?
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With numerous OT-needy teams picking ahead of them (Raiders at 13, Saints at 14, Bengals at 18, Rams at 19, Steelers at 20, and the Dolphins at 21), do you think the Eagles would be more than willing to package one of those second-round picks to move up to 15 with the Colts, or even to 12 with the Broncos in order to get their long-term successor to Lane Johnson?
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Dallas must find multiple starters in this draft. And as an NFC scouting director told ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid, a potential reason for the Cowboys' quiet free agency is that "they seem to be confident" in doing just that. Do you share the Cowboys supposed confidence? Would you anticipate two of the Cowboys three top-100 picks being spent on the offensive line given the departures of Tyler Biadasz and Tyron Smith?
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Commanders Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Giants Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Eagles Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Cowboys Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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If you're the Bengals, do you trade Tee Higgins during the draft, or do you think you can get a better return by trading him right before the mid-July franchise tag deadline?
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Last year, Steelers GM Omar Khan traded up three spots to select a raw, but super promising athletic OT in Broderick Jones. This year, can you anticipate Pittsburgh making an even bigger jump up the board (say seven or eight spots) to select a potential bookend tackle to Jones?
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If there's a certain position other than QB that may not be a need for the Browns now but will in 2025, what is it and which prospects at that particular position would be ideal Day 2 investments for them?
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Which prospects at positions other than OT, G, and EDGE can you see being selected by the Ravens at 30 overall?
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Bengals Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Steelers Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Browns Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Ravens Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Say the Cardinals trade back with the Vikings, netting them picks 11 and 23, meaning they would have four selections in the top 35. But shortly thereafter, in typical Monti Ossenfort fashion, the Cardinals offer the Chargers two of those four top-35 selections along with say a second or third next year to come up to 5. If you're Jim Harbaugh, do you take that deal and get yourself say Taliese Fuaga at 11 and Adonai Mitchell in the 20's, or do you stand pat at 5 and take the top WR on your board?
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At this time, do you think it is more likely the Broncos move back from 12 as opposed to trade up? NFL insider Benjamin Allbright also said last week that there are various scenarios in which the Broncos trade back TWICE and still get someone they highly covet. Do you feel similarly?
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If Jayden Daniels falls past the Commanders, do you highly anticipate the Raiders to offer a King's Ransom to the Patriots in order to trade up to 3? How ideal of a landing spot are the Raiders for a rookie QB?
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Which of those two positions (WR or OT) is the most urgent for the Chiefs to address? Just two years ago, Brett Veach traded up eight spots to select Trent McDuffie, who was arguably the best player on the field in Super Bowl LVIII. Do you expect Veach to his absolute darnedest to try to trade up even higher to nab such a difference maker at OT or WR?
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Chargers Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Broncos Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Raiders Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Chiefs Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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If you're Eliot Wolf, who's the Patriots de facto GM, what would you do with the third overall pick? If the Patriots do indeed stand pat at 3 and take a QB, should they have Jacoby Brissett start the entire 2024 season and whichever QB they select take the reins in 2025 a la Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes?
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Before free agency, most mock drafts had the Jets selecting a tackle with the 10th overall pick. But shortly after the news of the Tyron Smith signing broke, myself and several others on Draft Twitter immediately concluded that the Jets were going to draft Georgia TE Brock Bowers. Given the "win now or else" situation the Jets are in, does it feel inevitable to you that Bowers is going to be the pick at 10 if he's there?
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The Dolphins are one of the more difficult teams to gauge when it comes to what they'll do in the first round. What positions do you think they're eyeballing the most at 21 overall?
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Bills GM Brandon Beane is not shy about trading up in the first round as he done so four times in the past six years, including last year when they moved up for Dalton Kincaid. If you need to move up to say picks 12-15 in order to nab one of the top WR's to replace Stefon Diggs, should Brandon Beane be more than willing to do so?
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Patriots Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Jets Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Dolphins Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Bills Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Would you be surprised or even shocked if the Titans, should they keep the pick at 7, do not upgrade Will Levis's protection with a new OT? Another thing to keep in mind is that Tennessee only has two top-100 selections (7, 38). If another team offers the Titans another such selection for them to move back, would you take that deal if you're Ran Carthon?
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When you look at the Colts, this is a roster that doesn't really have any glaring holes on it, so they are well-positioned to take the absolute best player remaining on their board at 15. However, they don't have a proven receiving threat outside of Michael Pittman, Jr. and they also lack a legit shutdown boundary corner. Do you anticipate the Colts addressing one of those two needs in the first round, or can you easily see them looking elsewhere?
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If you're Trent Baalke, do you try everything possible to trade up into the top-10 for one of those big-three receivers (should one fall to 8 or 9), or do you stand pat at 17 and take a Brian Thomas, Jr. or an Adonai Mitchell? Jacksonville also has another urgent need at the cornerback position. Do you think it would be more prudent for the Jaguars to address that particular position at 17 and WR with their second-round pick?
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Stefon Diggs will turn 31 this November and both he and Nico Collins are slated to be free agents next year. Because of those circumstances, can you still see the Texans taking a WR with one of their three Day 2 picks?
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As you predicted on our Texans offseason preview episode, they made one big splash signing in free agency (Danielle Hunter) and made some excellent short-term value signings at other positions of need such as CB (Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson), DT (Denico Autry) and LB (Azeez al-Shaiir). Thus, Nick Caserio is in a sweet spot to truly take the best player available. I believe another reason the Texans were willing to drop down 19 spots from 23 to 42 is because they believe the options at DT, LB, or CB are going to be plentiful at that juncture of the draft. Which of those three aforementioned positions should be Houston's highest priority with their two second-round picks?
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Titans Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Colts Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Jaguars Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Texans Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Say one of Rome Odunze or Joe Alt, along with both Dallas Turner and Jared Verse are still available when the Bears are on the clock for the second time. But say the Jaguars at 17 or the Rams at 19, who DESPERATELY need a receiver and LT, respectively, offer the Bears their first and second-round picks this year plus their 2025 third-round pick to move up to 9. If you're Ryan Poles, do you take that deal or do you stay put at 9 and take whoever the top player on your board is?
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Let's say Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels go 1 and 2 as most expect, and the Patriots don't love the QB's that are still on the board at 3 and make a trade with the Vikings. That would give the Vikings their pick between Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy. If this comes to pass and you're Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, which of the latter two QB's would you select and why?
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Which prospects in this class (who will likely be available when the Packers on the clock) strike you as someone who will be an immediate contributor at a position of need?
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When the Lions are on the clock at 29, which of those three positions do you think they'd prefer to address for the long-term?
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Bears Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Vikings Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Packers Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Lions Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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If you're Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort, do you only move back from 4 for a package that's greater than or equal to the value of what the Dolphins received in the Trey Lance trade three years ago? Another thing to keep in mind is that last year, shortly after the Cardinals traded down from 3 with the Texans, they moved right back up to 6 with the Lions to take the guy they coveted all along in Paris Johnson, Jr. Do you anticipate Arizona making a similar series of moves on April 25?
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Which prospects do you think fit the bill for the Mike Macdonald-led Seahawks at 16 overall? As a result of the trades for Leonard Williams and Sam Howell, Seattle currently has just two picks in the top 100 (16, 81). On a scale of 1-10, how urgently does John Schneider want to trade back from 16 and recoup some lost value?
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If you're the Rams, do you trade up from 19 to say 12 (the Broncos reportedly want to move back if they can't move up for a QB) and take the last of the top-three OT's, or do you stay put at 19 and take either one of those second-tier tackles or an interior pass rush threat like a Byron Murphy or Johnny Newton?
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If a WR-needy team like Jacksonville offers the 49ers the 17th overall pick in exchange for Aiyuk, do you take that deal if you're Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch?
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Cardinals Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Seahawks Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Rams Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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49ers Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Should the Panthers spend both of their second-round picks (33 and 39) on further upgrading the supporting cast for Bryce Young, or should they spend one of those picks on beefing up the Brian Burns-less pass rush?
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Given the massive investment the Falcons just made in Kirk Cousins with that four-year, $180 million contract, do you get the feeling the Falcons will choose to either upgrade the OL by taking one of the top-three tackles or select one of WR's Rome Odunze or Malik Nabers if they're available?
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Is it better for the Saints to trade up for one of those aforementioned tackles, or stay put at 14 and take someone in that next tier like Troy Fautanu, J.C. Latham or Amarius Mims?
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If the corner and edge cupboards are bare (value-wise) when pick 26 rolls around, what would the best move be for the Bucs?
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Panthers Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Falcons Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Saints Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Bucs Three-Round Mock (No Trades)
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Dane Brugler said that Dallas Turner is probably the favorite to be the first defensive player off the board. Do you share that view and if so, what on tape makes him such an intriguing talent? Do you think Dallas Turner is capable of evolving into that "Batman" teams covet in their pass rush?
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What makes Jared Verse an instant impact Day 1 NFL starter and why would some teams have him higher than Dallas Turner on their boards?
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Do you think Laiatu Latu is worth a top-15 pick, or do you think he's a designated pass rusher at best in the NFL?
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Would you be surprised if Chop Robinson falls out of the first round altogether? If not, how high can you see him going?
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Do you believe Darius Robinson continued his momentum at the Combine and does he have a very good chance at hearing his name called on Day 1?
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Do you think Byron Murphy did what he had to do at the Combine to be drafted in the top-15?
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Before the Combine, Daniel Jeremiah had Braden Fiske ranked as his 45th overall prospect in the draft. Would you be surprised if Fiske gets drafted even earlier than that?
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What makes Johnny Newton worthy of an investment in the 20-35 range and do you still expect him to hear his name called around then?
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Buy Or Sell
-Austin Booker
-Chris Braswell
-Adisa Isaac
-Bralen Trice
-Gabriel Murphy
-Marshawn Kneeland
-T'Vondre Sweat
-Kris Jenkins
-Michael Hall
-Ruke Orhorhoro
-Fabien Lovett, Sr.
-Maason Smith
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For the second consecutive year, we seem to be looking at a very underwhelming crop of linebackers. What is your overall impression of this group and are there still solid options for LB-needy teams to consider?
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When you factor in both the athletic promise and the troublesome medical history of Payton Wilson, how high can you see him getting drafted?
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Since Junior Colson both played in and led a pretty comprehensive, pro-style defense in college, can you see him wearing the green dot for an NFL defense in his rookie season?
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If any LB in this class were a strong candidate to go on Day 1, why would it be Edgerrin Cooper?
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Do you think Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. has the highest floor out of any LB in this class outside of Junior Colson?
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Buy or Sell
-Cedric Gray
-Steele Chambers
-Tommy Eichenberg
-Nathaniel "Bookie" Watson
-Marist Liufau
-Jordan Magee
-Trevin Wallace
-Edefuan Ulofoshio
-Curtis Jacobs
-Easton Gibbs
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Last week, shortly after NFL free agency began, we saw a rather unprecedented market for running backs develop, especially by today's standards. And a big reason why that happened, according to Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network, is that the NFL is very down on the 2024 RB class. So I have a two-part question for you Jeff. First, what is your overall assessment of this crop of running backs and second, regardless of what you believe, why do you think NFL scouts and personnel executives feel the way they do?
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Based on his film alone, why do you think most consider Jonathan Brooks to be the best RB of the bunch? Even though he is still recovering from an ACL tear, would you still be surprised if he isn't the first RB off the board?
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Do you think Blake Corum is more of a second-string RB, even though he has an every-down skill-set? Hypothetically speaking, if Corum got selected by Jim Harbaugh (who obviously coached him in college) and the Chargers on late Day 2 or early Day 3, can you see him becoming a bona fide NFL starter?
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Given that the NFL highly covets skill position players who are known for making explosive plays (10+ yards) on a regular basis, would you be surprised if Jaylen Wright is the second RB off the board?
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Bucky Irving is undersized (5-9, 192) and his lack of explosiveness was on full display at the Combine. Were you surprised by that aspect of his performance in Indy and can he still be an effective "change-up" option in an NFL RB stable?
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Trey Benson only averaged 13.5 touches per game last season and only hit the 20-carry mark in one game during his two-year collegiate career. Do you think he is fully capable of shouldering a bigger load in the NFL?
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Buy or Sell
-MarShawn Lloyd
-Tyrone Tracy, Jr.
-Ray Davis
-Isaac Guerendo
-Will Shipley
-Audric Estime
-Rasheen Ali
-Dylan Laube
-Cody Schrader
-Isaiah Davis
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If Terrion Arnold has a case to be the first defensive player off the board on April 25, what is it?
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Would you be surprised if Quinyon Mitchell ends up being the best corner in this class?
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Clemson's Nate Wiggins is arguably the most "traits-y" corner in this draft class, but he had a rather disappointing Combine, only weighing in at 173 pounds (2nd percentile) and measuring in at an arm length of 30 1/2" (18th percentile). Do those measurements alone kick him out of the first round altogether?
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Do you think Cooper DeJean would be best served by switching to safety in the NFL? Should whatever team that drafts Cooper DeJean strongly consider using him as a punt and/or kickoff return specialist early in his career?
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If Kool-Aid McKinstry runs a respectable time at the Alabama Pro Day this week, do you think he locks himself into the tail-end of the first round at least?
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What do you like about Mike Sainristil's game and is he worth an investment at some point on Day 2?
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What is Tyler Nubin's case as the best safety in this year's draft?
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Buy or Sell
-Ennis Rakestraw, Jr.
-T.J. Tampa
-Kamari Lassiter
-Andru Phillips
-Renardo Green
-Max Melton
-Kris Abrams-Draine
-Jaden Hicks
-Javon Bullard
-Cole Bishop
-Dadrion Taylor-Demerson
-Kamren Kinchens
-Calen Bullock
-Kitan Oladapo
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For quite some time, Ohio State's Marvin Harrison, Jr. has been touted as a generational WR prospect. Several consider him as the best overall prospect in this draft class regardless of position. What exactly makes Marvin Harrison, Jr. such a rare, special talent?
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If there is a case for Malik Nabers to be drafted ahead of Marvin Harrison, Jr., what is it?
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What does Rome Odunze bring to the table that neither Marvin Harrison, Jr. nor Malik Nabers do?
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What is the best trait in Brian Thomas, Jr.'s game aside from his effectiveness in the deep passing game?
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What makes Adonai Mitchell such a tailor-made weapon for QB's like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen?
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What makes Xavier Worthy a more well-rounded player as opposed to just being a ludicrously fast big-play threat?
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What makes Brock Bowers such a game-changer? Say you're the Bears at 9 and the top three WR's are all gone, would Brock Bowers make sense for them to take there?
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As big of a drop-off as there is from Brock Bowers to the rest of this TE crop, there does seem to be a consensus TE2 in another Texas Longhorn, Ja'Tavion Sanders. Why is Sanders likely to be the second TE off the board?
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Buy or Sell
-Roman Wilson
-Ladd McConkey
-Ricky Pearsall
-Keon Coleman
-Xavier Legette
-Malachi Corley
-Troy Franklin
-Cade Stover
-Theo Johnson
-Ben Sinnott
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NFL insider Benjamin Allbright reported that the NFL is quite lower on Joe Alt than draft media is and added that the league has compared him to Mike McGlinchey, another former Notre Dame OT that you're quite familiar with. Do you agree or disagree with the NFL's assessment of Joe Alt, and if you disagree, why will Alt likely be a better player than the current Broncos RT?
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Should whoever drafts Taliese Fuaga him try him at tackle first and then switch him to guard if he fails? Would you be surprised if he's the first OT off the board?
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Why do you think the hype cooled off a bit on Olu Fashanu in the past year? At the Senior Bowl, I had a few conversations with Brandon Thorn, who is THE guy to go to for OL evaluations, and he said that if the big three WR are gone at 9 and Fashanu is still there, the Bears should not hesitate to run the card up to the podium and make Fashanu Caleb Williams' blindside protector. Would you do that if you were Ryan Poles?
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In your view, what is J.C. Latham's best position at the NFL level?
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Let's say, hypothetically speaking, Amarius Mims' medical evaluations turn out good. How high can you see him being drafted in that scenario?
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Do you think the best role for Troy Fautanu at the NFL level is one similar to Alijah Vera-Tucker, meaning he starts at guard but is able to kick outside in a pinch?
-
If his health situation improves over the next six weeks, do you think Jackson Powers-Johnson is worth a top-20-25 pick?
-
Buy Or Sell
-Graham Barton
-Zach Frazier
-Tyler Guyton
-Cooper Beebe
-Jordan Morgan
-Christian Haynes
-Kiran Amegadije
-Christian Mahogany
-Kinglsey Suamataia
-Dominick Puni
-Roger Rosengarten
-Tanor Bortolini
-
Aside from positional value, what makes J.J. McCarthy worth a top-10 pick, and would it surprise you if he got drafted before either Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye?
-
One player expected to shine in on-field workouts at the Combine is Texas DT Byron Murphy. According to NFL Draft Analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic, Murphy's goals are to run a 4.8-second 40, a 7.2-second three cone drill, and do "at least" 35 bench press reps. If he hits those numbers, will Byron Murphy solidify himself as a top-15 pick in this draft?
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Should he test as well or better than expected, can you see Chop Robinson being a top-20 pick, especially given the fact the league constantly emphasizes traits when it comes to rushing the QB?
-
If Amarius Mims posts freakish testing numbers as expected and passes medical exams, does that make him the clear-cut OT4 in this class, if not better?
-
If Malik Nabers steals the show during the pre-draft process, would you be surprised if he gets drafted before Marvin Harrison, Jr.?
-
Stock Up, Stock Down
-Roman Wilson
-Keon Coleman
-Kris Jenkins
-Braelon Allen
-Kingsley Suamataia
-Cooper Beebe
-Nate Wiggins
-Quinyon Mitchell
- First-round Mock Draft 1.0
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The first big move of the Texans off-season occurred the week before the Super Bowl as they were able to retain both offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik (who was a hot head coaching candidate) and QB's coach Jerrod Johnson (who was a hot OC candidate) on revised contracts. Does this move suggest to you that Jerrod Johnson will replace Bobby Slowik at offensive coordinator should Slowik get a head coaching job in 2025?
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Which positions do the Texans need to address the most in both free agency and the draft in order to take another massive step forward next season?
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A key player entering the final year of his rookie deal is WR Nico Collins. Do you think locking him up to a long-term extension before Week 1 is a very high priority for the Texans?
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In his first three seasons as GM, Nick Caserio has approached free agency by avoiding "Tiffany's" signings as much as possible and primarily shopping at The Dollar Tree if you know what I mean. However, with a star QB on a rookie deal in C.J. Stroud and north of $50 million in effective cap space, it may be wise for the Texans to reel in a big fish off the free agent market. One such player expected to hit the open market is Chiefs All Pro DT Chris Jones. If Jones and his agent are taking other teams calls on March 11, how aggressively do you think the Texans will be eyeballing him?
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ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported early this week that there's buzz across the entire NFL that the Texans may try to upgrade the running back position to help take the offense to an even higher level. The crop of running backs in the 2024 NFL Draft is considered underwhelming, thus the Texans may look to free agency to make such an investment in their running game. Which one of prospective free agent RB's Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Derrick Henry would make the most sense for the Texans and why?
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Before the free agent market even opens, it is a safe bet that Nick Caserio and the Texans front office will keep close tabs on their in-house free agents, especially DE Jonathan Greenard, TE Dalton Schultz, CB Steven Nelson, DT Sheldon Rankins and LB Blake Cashman. Which one of those five do you believe the Texans are most likely to re-sign, and which one do you believe is most likely headed elsewhere?
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What would a realistic, yet ideal free agent haul for the Texans look like in your view?
-
Seven-Round Texans Mock Draft
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Based on what you've seen from their tape thus far, do you think Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or even Jayden Daniels would be an automatic upgrade over Justin Fields and why?
-
If you're Ryan Poles, do you commit to trading Justin Fields by mid-March, or would you be willing to hold on to him until April, especially if neither Caleb Williams nor Drake Maye impress in interviews at the Combine?
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According to NFL insider Brad Spielberger of PFF, the Bears would probably be able to receive picks 2 and 40 this year plus Washington's 2025 first to move down one spot. If you're Ryan Poles and you see little to no gap between Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, would you accept such an offer?
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What are you thoughts on the Bears hire of Shane Waldron as OC and why would Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or even Justin Fields benefit from working with him?
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Starting February 20, NFL clubs will have until 4 PM ET on March 5 to apply franchise tags to certain players. If a deal doesn't seem it is within reach by then, should the Bears use the franchise tag on All Pro CB Jaylon Johnson?
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If the Bears release S Eddie Jackson, the Bears will save an additional $12.56 million in 2024 cap space and if they release G/C (and friend of the pod) Cody Whitehair, they will save an additional $9.15 million in cap space. Should the Bears release one or both of those players?
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When it comes to free agency this spring, should the Bears be far more frugal compared to last year and save their next big shopping spree for 2025? Or would you go all in to build the best team possible around your rookie QB right now?
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Three-round mock draft
- Biggest Takeaways From Conference Championship Weekend
-DKrom: A win on Sunday officially cements the Chiefs as the next great NFL dynasty
-Hal: Dan Campbell learned that sometimes you just have to take the points, especially in the playoffs
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: L'Jarius Sneed, Hal: Travis Kelce)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Todd Monken, Hal: John Harbaugh)
- Coaching Carousel Latest
-GRADING THE HIRES
(1). Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald (DKrom: A+, Hal: A+)
(2): Commanders HC Dan Quinn (DKrom: C, Hal: D)
(3): Chargers GM Joe Hortiz (DKrom: A, Hal: A)
(4). Steelers OC Arthur Smith (DKrom: C, Hal: C-)
(5). Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury (DKrom: B-, Hal: C-)
(6). Raiders OC Luke Getsy (DKrom: C+, Hal: C+)
(7). Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt (DKrom: B+, Hal: A)
(8). Chargers OC Greg Roman (DKrom: C-, Hal: C)
(9). Bucs OC Liam Coen (DKrom: C, Hal: B-)
(10). Saints OC Klint Kubiak (DKrom: B, Hal: B)
(11). Falcons OC Zac Robinson (DKrom: B, Hal: B+/A-)
(12). Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver (DKrom: A+, Hal: A)
(13). Titans DC Dennard Wilson (DKrom: A-, Hal: A-)
(14). Chargers DC Jesse Minter (DKrom: A, Hal: A)
(15). Packers DC Jeff Hafley (DKrom: B+, Hal: B+)
(16). Giants DC Shane Bowen (DKrom, A, Hal: A)
(17). Ravens DC Zach Orr (DKrom: A, Hal: A-)
- Simpatico Or No Simpatico
-The Ravens blew their best chance to win a Super Bowl with Lamar Jackson
-The Packers will be playing in the NFC Championship game next season
-The Texans will be kings of the AFC South for the foreseeable future
-The Cardinals will trade down from the #4 overall pick if Marvin Harrison, Jr. is off the board
-Ben Johnson and Bobby Slowik will be the two hottest head coaching candidates in 2025
-Because of the historically low number of underclassmen in the 2024 NFL Draft, the first round will be an unprecedented buyer's market
-The Chiefs will bring back Eric Bieniemy for the 2024 season
-Due to the losses of Ran Carthon and Adam Peters, the 49ers roster will take a step back in 2024
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Super Bowl LVIII Game Preview
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Bold Predictions
-DKrom: L'Jarius Sneed intercepts 2 passes and comes up with the play of the game to help seal the win for the Chiefs. With 2:30 left in the 4th, and the Chiefs leading 21-17, he strip-sacks Brock Purdy on a third-down blitz and the Chiefs recover the fumble inside the 49ers 20. That sets up the game-clinching TD...and cements MVP honors for Sneed
-Hal: Patrick Mahomes throws three interceptions, including one to former Chief Charvarius Ward on the final drive of the game to seal the win for the 49ers
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: NFL fans everywhere...cherish this game and the players...and may SBLVIII be the best Super Bowl ever!!!
-DKrom: 49ers....stay ahead of the sticks!!!!
Our good friend Mark Gaughan, Bills beat reporter for The Buffalo News, joined us at the Senior Bowl to discuss how he sees the Bills navigating their 2024 salary cap crunch, whether or not he believes head coach Sean McDermott and GM Brandon Beane are on the hot seat headed into 2024, and which positions he believes the Bills will be eyeballing in the draft
Former NFL TE Clay Harbor, who played nine seasons in the league and who currently works for various media outlets including The 33rd Team, joined us for a fun conversation at the Senior Bowl. He lists the players who stood out to him the most (in both good ways and bad) during the week of practices down in Mobile, shares his thoughts on what the Bears should do with the #1 overall pick and how they should approach the decision-making process, gives his assessments on what went wrong for the Jaguars in 2023 plus the Eagles OC and DC hirings, and explains why he believes the Texans are going to dominate the AFC South for years to come
Tyler Forness, who covers the Vikings for the USA Today Vikings Wire, joined us at the Senior Bowl to discuss whether or not we've seen the last of Kirk Cousins in Minnesota, how the Vikings will address the QB position should Cousins depart, why he believes star pass rusher and impending free agent Danielle Hunter will re-sign with the Vikings, when to expect new contract extensions for WR Justin Jefferson and LT Christian Darrisaw, and which position groups to expect the Vikings to target in the draft
Clarence Hill, Jr., legendary Cowboys beat reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, joined us at the Senior Bowl to discuss the real possibility of 2024 being Dak Prescott's final season in a Cowboys uniform, what he sees happening with impending Cowboys free agent LT Tyron Smith, the team's options to replace Dan Quinn at defensive coordinator, and which positions he believes Dallas will prioritize in the draft
Parker Gabriel, who is the Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post, joined us at the Senior Bowl to discuss likely cap casualty, restructure, extension or trade candidates for the Broncos this spring, why trading back from 12 overall makes a lot of sense, Denver's free agency options at QB, and what the team's performance in 2023 says about head coach Sean Payton
Matt Matera, who covers the Bucs for PewterReport.com, joined us at the Senior Bowl where he shared his predictions on what will likely happen with impending Bucs free agents Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, and Antoine Winfield, Jr., plus the latest on the Bucs search for a new offensive coordinator and which positions he believes the Bucs should prioritize early in the draft
ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler joined us at the Senior Bowl to share the latest intel he's hearing on the Commanders head coaching search, potential timetables for the Bears to make their decision at QB, possible free agency destinations for QB's Kirk Cousins, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, plus his thoughts on which team currently picking in the top-three of the draft is most likely to trade back
Our good friend Katherine Terrell, who covers the Saints for ESPN, joined us at the Senior Bowl to discuss which players are likely to be cap casualties this spring, the latest on the Saints search for a new offensive coordinator, whether or not 2024 is a "make or break" year for head coach Dennis Allen, and which positions the Saints will prioritize in the draft
Nick Farabaugh, Steelers beat reporter for PGH Steelers Now, joined us at the Senior Bowl to give us a reasonable take on the Steelers hire of Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator, his prediction on what the Steelers QB room will look like in 2024, his understanding of where contract talks with Mike Tomlin will eventually end up, and his belief as to which positions the Steelers will prioritize in the draft
Veteran Packers beat reporter Gery Woelfel joined us at the Senior Bowl and told us when to expect a new contract for Jordan Love, the latest on the Pack's search for a new defensive coordinator, which position he believes they will target early in the draft, and more
Our good friend Turron Davenport, who is the Titans beat reporter for ESPN, joined us at the Senior Bowl and told us what about new head coach Brian Callahan impressed the Titans the most, the latest on the candidates for Callahan's coaching staff, a potential hypothetical scenario with the #7 overall pick, and why the Titans STRONGLY believe in GM Ran Carthon
Nicholas Moreano, who covers the Bears for CHGO Sports, joined us at the Senior Bowl to share his guess as to what the Bears will do with the #1 overall pick in the draft, when he thinks GM Ryan Poles will reach such a decision, his thoughts on the likelihood of star CB Jaylon Johnson getting the franchise tag, and the Bears hire of Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator
Joe Person, Panthers beat reporter for The Athletic, joined us at the Senior Bowl to share his thoughts (and similar words of caution) on new Carolina head coach Dave Canales and new GM Dan Morgan. He also shared the latest intel he's hearing on defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and his future with the team...and what he believes the Panthers may end up doing with star pass rusher Brian Burns, who's slated to be a free agent this March. Person also explained the potentially pivotal role Brandt Tillis (who was recently the Chiefs EVP of Football Operations) will play in the Panthers front office and told us which positions he believes the Panthers will address early in the draft
Bo Brack, who covers the Cardinals for PHNX Sports, joined us at the Senior Bowl to discuss why things are looking up for the Cards under Jonathan Gannon, who the Cardinals will likely pick at #4 overall (and what they may do if that player isn't there), how Kyler Murray successfully sold himself to the new Cardinals regime, other positions the Cardinals would like to address early in the draft, and players who could be cap casualties this year
Vincent Bonsignore, who covers the Raiders for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, joined us to share his thoughts on new Raiders full-time head coach Antonio Pierce and new GM Tom Telesco, the latest intel on the team's search for a new offensive coordinator, how he thinks the Raiders will try to upgrade the QB position this offseason and what position(s) he believes they'll target early in the draft
Our friend Billy Riccette of the USA Today Jets Wire joined us from the Senior Bowl to discuss the players that caught his eye on Day 1 of practices and others he'll be watching throughout the week, his thoughts on why the Bears should actually keep Justin Fields and trade the #1 overall pick, and his prediction for Super Bowl LVIII
- Biggest Takeaways From Divisional Weekend
-DKrom: New defensive scheme about to take the NFL by storm?
-Hal: Compared to Wild Card Weekend, all four games were fun to watch
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: Sheila Ford Hamp, Hal: Jared Goff/Isaih Pacheco)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Bills WR's and Packers DB's, Hal: Sean McDermott/Joe Brady)
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DKrom & Hal's Pro Football HOF Class of 2024 Picks
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Coaching Carousel Latest
-New Falcons head coach Raheem Morris was among three reported "Plan B" options for the Falcons that also included Texans OC Bobby Slowik (whom the Falcons were VERY impressed by in his initial interview), and former Titans HC Mike Vrabel. Do you think the Falcons hired the best one of the three?
-During his appearance on the Rich Eisen Show on Wednesday, Florio said he got the impression from some highly trusted sources that the Chiefs are preparing for the possibility of Andy Reid retiring after the Chiefs season concludes. And IF that happens, he believes Chiefs players would lobby for Eric Bieniemy to be Reid's successor. If you're the Hunt family in that scenario, do you honor the players' wishes...or do you make a big run at Bill Belichick?
-GRADING THE HIRES
(1). Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh (DKrom: A+, Hal: A)
(2): Falcons HC Raheem Morris (DKrom: A, Hal: A)
(3). Raiders HC Antonio Pierce (DKrom: B, Hal: B-)
(4). Raiders GM Tom Telesco (DKrom: B+, Hal: B)
(5). Titans HC Brian Callahan (DKrom: C, Hal: B-)
(6) Panthers HC Dave Canales (DKrom: B+, Hal: A-)
(7). Panthers GM Dan Morgan (DKrom: B, Hal: B-)
(8). Bears OC Shane Waldron (DKrom: A, Hal: A)
(9) Eagles DC Vic Fangio (DKrom: A+, Hal: B+)
(10). Jaguars DC Ryan Nielsen (DKrom: A, Hal: A+)
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AFC Championship Preview (Chiefs at Ravens)
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NFC Championship Preview (Lions at 49ers)
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Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Ravens and Chiefs are tied at 20 with 50 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Ravens are driving and have the ball on the Chiefs 45...but Chris Jones strip-sacks Lamar and Nick Bolton picks it up and returns it for the game-winning TD!!
-Hal: Lions jump out to 23-7 lead at the half, but Brock Purdy takes over in the second half with 3 TD passes in the fourth quarter...all to George Kittle...leading the 49ers to a 31-30 win
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: Andy Reid...leave nothing behind and throw EVERYTHING at this Ravens defense!!!
-DKrom: Lions...embrace your role as underdogs and as America's Team!!!
- Biggest Takeaways From Wild Card Weekend
-DKrom: Jordan Love is a top-10 QB
-Hal: Browns elite defense and Dolphins elite offense fall flat
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: Nick Caserio, Hal: Baker Mayfield)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Jerry Jones, Hal: Sean McVay)
-
Should the Cowboys pay Dak Prescott before the 2024 season or let him play next season out and be open to a roster tear-down in 2025?
-
Coaching Carousel Latest
-If the Steelers do not extend Mike Tomlin before Week 1 of next season, will 2024 be Tomlin's final year with the Steelers?
-How shocked would you be if Texans OC Bobby Slowik is not a head coach in 2024?
-Should the Chargers hire one of those four aforementioned candidates as GM, does it suggest to you that the Chargers are extremely confident Jim Harbaugh is theirs?
-At this point, it would be quite a surprise if Bill Belichick doesn’t end up with the Falcons, wouldn’t it?
-In Lions OC Ben Johnson's case, do you think the Commanders present the best landing spot for him?
-GRADING THE HIRES
(1). Commanders GM Adam Peters (DKrom: A, Hal: A)
(2). Patriots HC Jerod Mayo (DKrom: B-, Hal: C)
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Ravens at Texans Preview
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Packers at 49ers Preview
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Bucs at Lions Preview
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Chiefs at Bills Preview
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Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Baker Mayfield throws for 400+ yards and 6 TD...including a game-winning 76-yard bomb to Mike Evans on 3rd-and-20 in OT
-Hal: C.J. Stroud posts a perfect 158.3 QBR against the Ravens and throws for 300+ yards and 4 TD...3 of them to Nico Collins who also totals 150 receiving yards
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: Road teams...make this the best weekend of football this season by covering the spread!!!
-DKrom: Texans, Packers, and Bucs...play disciplined, yet loose and enjoy the moment!!!
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 18
-DKrom: The football gods couldn't have scripted Super Wild Card Weekend any better
-Hal: Eagles and Dolphins limping into the playoffs and blowing their division leads
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: Jordan Love/Matt LaFleur/Brian Gutekunst, Hal: Sean McVay)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Trent Baalke/Doug Pederson, Hal: Mickey Loomis/Dennis Allen/Jameis Winston)
-
2023 NFL Awards (FINAL)
-
Coaching Carousel Latest
-If Jim Harbaugh does indeed return to the NFL for a second head coaching stint, will it be with the Raiders or with the Chargers?
-How good of a fit would Bill Belichick be in Atlanta?
-With Mike Vrabel now gone, is it a good bet that the Titans are likely destined to spend the next three years or so in the AFC South basement? With Belichick now out in New England, on a scale of 1-10, how shocked would you be if Vrabel is not among the two finalists to succeed him?
-Say the Cowboys get eliminated either this week or next week, and Jerry Jones decides to fire Mike McCarthy and then hands Dan Quinn a blank check. Should that come to fruition, do you think it's more likely Dan Quinn stays in Dallas as the Cowboys next head coach, or do you think he returns to Seattle to replace his mentor Pete Carroll no matter what?
-Do the Bears have to make clear to any OC candidate that they and Eberflus will have at least two years together with a rookie QB selected with the #1 overall pick?
-
Ranking the Head Coaching Vacancies
-
Packers at Cowboys Preview
-
Rams at Lions Preview
-
Super Wild Card Weekend Picks
-Browns at Texans
-Dolphins at Chiefs
-Steelers at Bills
-Eagles at Bucs
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Just like in their Wild Card game against the Cardinals 14 years ago, the Packers and Jordan Love battle the Cowboys to a shoot-out with little to no defense that goes to OT tied at 35. But in addition, a la Aaron Rodgers and Karlos Dansby in that aforementioned game, Love throws a pick-six in OT to DaRon Bland
-Hal: Josh Allen throws 3 INT that lead to 3 Mason Rudolph TD's to Darnell Washington, Allen Robinson and Connor Heyward for the game-winner in the fourth quarter
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: 8 teams with head coaching vacancies... keep your mind open and don't sleep on young, under-the-radar assistants!!
-DKrom: Eagles...play to the biggest strength on your team...the OL and the ground attack!!!
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 17
-DKrom: Eagles miss Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon even more than we anticipated
-Hal: Mike Tomlin, why did you start Mitchell Trubisky over Mason Rudolph for three weeks?!!!
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: Lamar Jackson, Hal: Todd Monken)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Mike McDaniel, Hal: Matt Patricia)
- NFL Officiating Woes
-In order for the NFL to send a clear signal that it is holding its officials accountable, do you think Brad Allen should at least be demoted?
- Coaching Carousel Latest
-Based on the latest news of Jim Harbaugh hiring Don Yee as his agent, by how much would you say the odds of him returning to the NFL in 2024 have increased?
-If the Commanders place in the draft order holds, can you see Belichick choosing Washington over the Chargers?
-If the Falcons lose in embarrassing fashion this weekend against the Saints, can you see Arthur Blank giving Arthur Smith his pink slip?
-In your view, has Matt Eberflus earned a third year as Bears head coach?
- Simpatico or No Simpatico
-Unless he gets a head coaching job this cycle, Eric Bieniemy will be the Bears offensive coordinator in 2024
-Kenny Pickett's days as the Steelers full-time starting QB are over
-The Browns are the most dangerous threat to the Ravens in the AFC
-The Lions are the most dangerous threat to the 49ers in the NFC
-Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz, who had several GM interviews last cycle, will be a GM in 2024
-Jordan Love will receive a long-term contract extension from the Packers on the eve of the 2024 regular season
-The New York Giants will select a QB in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft if either the Bears, Commanders, or Patriots decide to pass on one
-The Kansas City Chiefs will be one-and-done in the playoffs
-
Texans at Colts Preview
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Bills at Dolphins Preview
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Week 18 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: Bucs over Panthers, Hal: Cowboys over Commanders)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Bears over Packers, Hal: Giants over Eagles)
-Steelers at Ravens
-Browns at Bengals
-Jaguars at Titans
-Falcons at Saints
-Jets at Patriots
-Vikings at Lions
-Rams at 49ers
-Seahawks at Cardinals
-Broncos at Raiders
-Chiefs at Chargers
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Justin Fields totals 407 total yards (303 passing yards, 104 rushing yards) and 4 total TD, including game-winning 15-yard TD pass to D.J. Moore with 20 seconds left to give the Bears a 28-24 win over the Packers
-Hal: Tommy DeVito replaces concussed Tyrod Taylor and throws 3 TD to upset the Eagles 21-18
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: Teams that have playoff hopes on the line...BRING YOUR 'A' GAME!!!!!!
-DKrom: Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk...if rumors are even remotely true...get Mike Vrabel and Ran Carthon in a room, iron out whatever disagreements they may have and force cooler heads to prevail
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 16
-DKrom: The Chiefs offense is broken and needs a sizable overhaul in 2024
-Hal: NOBODY is unbeatable and the road to Super Bowl LVIII is still wide open
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: Joe Flacco/Amari Cooper, Hal: Ravens defense)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Sean Payton, Hal: Andy Reid/Matt Nagy)
- Coaching Carousel Latest
-Based on the amazing job Antonio Pierce has done with the Raiders since taking over as interim head coach, does Mark Davis have no choice other than to give him the full-time HC job, regardless of how these final two games go?
-Is this the year Jim Harbaugh bolts Michigan for a second NFL head coaching stint?
-If the Saints lose out, should they fire Dennis Allen?
-On a scale of 1-10, how shocked would you be if Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is not a head coach next season?
-
Barring unforeseen circumstances, is it safe to say the Russell Wilson era in Denver has come to an end? If the Broncos end up with a top-10 pick in the draft (which is still very possible), would it surprise you if they select a QB like Jayden Daniels, J.J. McCarthy or Michael Penix (if his medicals check out good)?
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Simpatico or No Simpatico
-Lamar Jackson is now the frontrunner for 2023 NFL MVP honors
-The winner of the AFC South will be whoever wins the Week 18 match-up between the Texans and Colts
-With Brock Purdy dealing with a stinger and the OL banged up, the 49ers should start Sam Darnold against the Commanders this week
-If they have the first or second overall draft pick, the Cardinals should keep Kyler Murray and use that pick on Marvin Harrison, Jr.
-Due to their suspect pass defense, the Eagles will not be playing in the NFC Championship game
-Unless he decides to go home to Georgia and play for the Falcons, Justin Fields will be the starting QB for the Steelers in 2024
-Before the franchise tag deadline, the Bucs will re-sign Baker Mayfield to a new contract similar to the one the Seahawks gave Geno Smith
-If the Browns win one more game, Kevin Stefanski will be the 2023 NFL Coach of the Year
-
Lions at Cowboys Preview
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Dolphins at Ravens Preview
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Week 17 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: Browns over Jets, Hal: Bills over Patriots)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Panthers over Jaguars, Hal: Giants over Rams)
-Falcons at Bears
-Saints at Bucs
-Titans at Texans
-Raiders at Colts
-49ers at Commanders
-Cardinals at Eagles
-Steelers at Seahawks
-Chargers at Broncos
-Bengals at Chiefs
-Packers at Vikings
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Bryce Young lights up Jaguars for 320 passing yards and 3 TD, including two in the fourth quarter to Adam Thielen to pull off the 21-17 upset victory
-Hal: Kayvon Thibodeaux strip-sacks Matthew Stafford, leading to a game-winning 50+-yard TD pass from Tyrod Taylor to Wan'Dale Robinson
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: Shane Steichen and Colts...prove me wrong and make the playoffs!!!!
-DKrom: DeMeco Ryans, C.J. Stroud and Texans...win out and make the playoffs!!!
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 15
-DKrom: Bills looking more dangerous than ever because of how they're running the ball
-Hal: It's hard to trust both the AFC South and NFC South
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: Brad Holmes/Drew Lock, Hal: Trey Sermon/Tyler Goodson)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Kevin O'Connell, Hal: Jets coaching staff)
- Coaching Carousel Latest
-Do you believe, at this time, that the odds are that Bill Belichick will be headed to L.A. to coach the Chargers in 2024 shoud he leave the Patriots?
-Do you think it is all but certain that Arthur Smith will be fired?
-With 7-10 head coaching vacancies expected (including the Chargers, Panthers and Raiders), would you be surprised at this point if Bucs OC Dave Canales isn't a head coach next year?
-After what transpired on Sunday in Cleveland, how hard is it to see the Bears retaining Matt Eberflus?
- Simpatico or No Simpatico
-Jake Browning will be a full-time starting QB for another team as early as next season
-The winner of the NFC South will be whoever wins the Week 17 match-up between the Saints and Bucs
-Vikings DC Brian Flores' system will be the next big schematic craze in the NFL
-If the Bills make the playoffs, it will be as AFC East champions
-If he plays in 2024, Derrick Henry will be a part-time, mostly short-yardage/goal line back for another team
-The Lions will NOT extend Jared Goff next year and have him simply play out the final year of his contract
-There will be multiple 10-7 AFC teams that do NOT make the playoffs
-Dak Prescott will sign a new contract extension that will totally re-set the QB market next year
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Cowboys at Dolphins Preview
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Ravens at 49ers Preview
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Week 15 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: Bills over Chargers, Hal: Broncos over Patriots)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Patriots over Broncos, Hal: Raiders over Chiefs)
-Saints at Rams
-Bengals at Steelers
-Commanders at Jets
-Browns at Texans
-Seahawks at Titans
-Colts at Falcons
-Lions at Vikings
-Packers at Panthers
-Jaguars at Bucs
-Cardinals at Bears
-Giants at Eagles
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Jake Browning completes 31 of 32 passes (96.8%), which breaks the all-time single game record for highest completion percentage, which was most recently set by Drew Brees in 2019 (96.7%)
-Hal: Jimmy Garoppolo comes off the bench and leads the Raiders on three TD drives, including a game-winner to Davante Adams
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: Lions, Eagles, and Cowboys...push the 49ers HARD for the NFC's #1 playoff seed!!!
-DKrom: Cowboys...learn how to counter-punch and beat a championship-level opponent on the road!!
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 14
-DKrom: Kevin Stefanski has firmly entered the Coach of the Year conversation
-Hal: You have to be three-deep at QB in today's NFL
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: Will Levis/Mike Vrabel, Hal: Zach Wilson)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Kadarius Toney/Andy Reid/Patrick Mahomes, Hal: Kadarius Toney and Chiefs offense)
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If the Bills run the table and get in the playoffs, will they be the team nobody wants to face in a wide open AFC?
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Tough Decisions Loom Ahead In The Windy City
-Do you think Ryan Poles' job as Bears GM should be safe?
-If Justin Fields has a strong finish to the season, do you at minimum highly consider keeping him and make another blockbuster trade-down from the #1 overall pick (barring 2-3 more wins by the Panthers)?
-Should the Bears also retain head coach Matt Eberflus if they win say 2-3 more games?
- Simpatico or No Simpatico
-In addition to firing Brandon Staley, the Chargers will also fire GM Tom Telesco
-Tommy DeVito will be the backup QB to whoever the Giants starting QB is next season, whether it be Daniel Jones or a rookie
-The Patriots will win two more games, pushing them out of the top-two picks in the draft
-If the Rams make the playoffs, they'll be the team nobody in the NFC wants to face
-The Joe Flacco-led Cleveland Browns will win a playoff game
-The winner of Sunday's Bucs/Packers game will make the playoffs...and the loser will not
-The Jake Browning-led Bengals will be one of the AFC's three wild card playoff teams
-You can officially narrow down the 2023 NFL MVP race to two finalists: Brock Purdy and Dak Prescott
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Cowboys at Bills Preview
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Ravens at Jaguars Preview
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Week 15 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: 49ers over Cardinals, Hal: Chiefs over Patriots)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Bears over Browns, Hal: Jets over Dolphins)
-Chargers at Raiders
-Vikings at Bengals
-Steelers at Colts
-Broncos at Lions
-Bucs at Packers
-Giants at Saints
-Falcons at Panthers
-Texans at Titans
-Commanders at Rams
-Eagles at Seahawks
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs help the Lions break the all-time, single-game rushing yardage record by a team as they combine for 440 rushing yards, breaking the record currently held by the Giants, who ran for 423 yards against the Colts in November 1950.
-Hal: Will Levis throws for 400+ yards and 4-yd., including one on a 90-yard game-winning drive in the final two minutes
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: Cowboys...FINISH STRONG!!!
-DKrom: All teams with 6-7 wins and fighting for a playoff spot...DON'T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH!!! Take it one game at a time
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 13
-DKrom: 49ers let us all know that they're the best team in the NFL at full strength
-Hal: The Wild Card playoff spots are WIDE open in both conferences
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: Jake Browning, Hal: Jordan Love)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Craig Aukerman, Hal: Ron Rivera)
- AFC South
-Given Trevor Lawrence's injury, would you be shocked or surprised if either the Colts or Texans end up as 2023 AFC South champions?
-Do you think Shane Steichen deserves Coach of the Year honors?
- Coaching Carousel Latest
-On a scale of 1-10, how surprised or shocked would you be if the Jets actually fire Robert Saleh?
- Simpatico or No Simpatico (Playoff Picture Edition)
-It will be a colossal failure if the Packers don't make the playoffs
-The Chiefs will NOT be playing in the 2023 AFC Championship Game
-The Rams will overtake the Vikings in the playoff picture, not look back, and make the playoffs as a Wild Card
-The winner of the Dolphins/Ravens game in Week 17 will be the AFC's #1 seed
-For the second consecutive season, the Steelers will finish 9-8 and miss the playoffs
-If the Eagles lose to the Cowboys on Sunday night, the road to Super Bowl LVIII in the NFC will NOT go through Philly
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Eagles at Cowboys Preview
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Week 14 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: Packers over Giants, Hal: Lions over Bears)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Raiders over Vikings, Hal: Jaguars over Browns)
-Patriots at Steelers
-Colts at Bengals
-Rams at Ravens
-Texans at Jets
-Bucs at Falcons
-Panthers at Saints
-Seahawks at 49ers
-Broncos at Chargers
-Bills at Chiefs
-Titans at Dolphins
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Jets D holds C.J. Stroud to less than 200 passing yards...but the Texans D comes up big with three sacks and three forced fumbles (all recovered by HOU) by Will Anderson, Jr. and two pick-sixes by Derek Stingley, Jr., leading the Texans to a 21-10 victory
-Hal: Justin Jefferson totals 10 receptions, 250+ receiving yards and 4 TD in his return to action
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: Chiefs, make a late push for the AFC's #1 playoff seed!!!
-DKrom: AFC teams with star QB's currently on the outside looking in (Bills, Chargers, Texans)...find a way to make the playoffs!!!
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 12
-DKrom: Eagles are playing with the heart of a champion
-Carl: Great games decided by a score or less shake up playoff picture, surprise teams keep surprising
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: Jessie Bates III, Carl: Kyren Williams)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Sean McDermott, Carl: Mac Jones)
- Coaching Carousel Latest
-Do you think it would be prudent for the Bills to fire Sean McDermott unless they miraculously make the playoffs?
-With an impatient, impulsive, uber-meddlesome owner like David Tepper in complete command of the operation, is this Panthers head coaching vacancy arguably THE most unattractive job opening in recent NFL history?
-Do you think the Chargers should give OC Kellen Moore a 4-5 game tryout as interim head coach should they suffer their eighth loss either this week or next week?
- Truth or Exaggeration
-Dak Prescott is a top candidate for 2023 NFL MVP honors and DaRon Bland is a top candidate for 2023 NFL DPOY honors
-The Steelers offense has turned a corner and they'll average 20 PPG or more down the stretch
-The Packers will make the playoffs as a Wild Card
-If the Jets lose this Sunday to the Falcons, they should decide once and for all that Aaron Rodgers will NOT play again this season
-The Lions will be one-and-done in the playoffs
-Rashee Rice is the underrated key X-factor that will determine whether or not the Chiefs make it to Super Bowl LVIII
-After years of frustrating play up front, the Denver Broncos now have a top-10 NFL offensive line
-The 49ers and Eagles are on a collision course for a rematch in the 2023 NFC Championship game
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49ers at Eagles Preview
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Week 13 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: Jaguars over Bengals, Carl: Dolphins over Commanders)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Packers over Chiefs, Carl: Titans over Colts)
-Seahawks at Cowboys
-Chargers at Patriots
-Broncos at Texans
-Falcons at Jets
-Lions at Saints
-Cardinals at Steelers
-Browns at Rams
-Panthers at Bucs
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Christian McCaffrey registers 300 total yards of offense (150 rushing yards, 150 receiving yards), and scores 4 TD (2 rushing, 2 receiving), including the game-winner on 4th-and-goal from the 2 as time expires
-Carl: Russell Wilson throws for 300+ yards for the first time this season and 3 TD passes
- Challenge Flags
-Carl: Browns...get back to what you're good at and RUN. THE. BALL!!!!
-DKrom: Detroit Lions...rediscover that kneecap-biting mojo!!!
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 11
-DKrom: Patrick Mahomes deserves better
-Hal: Tom Brady has a point about the current state of the NFL
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: Jaquan McMillian, Hal: C.J. Stroud/Jared Goff)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Matt Eberflus, Hal: Ron Rivera/Jack Del Rio)
- Coaching Carousel Latest
-Did Sunday's choke job in Detroit pretty much seal Matt Eberflus' fate as Bears head coach barring a strong finish to the season?
-If David Tepper were to fire Frank Reich after just one season, would it send a bad signal to prospective HC candidates that he may never learn to change his ways?
-Frank Schwab of Yahoo Sports suggested that the Commanders should fire Ron Rivera as soon as after today's game against the Cowboys and give Eric Bieniemy a 5-6 game tryout to conclude the season. Would that be a prudent move for Josh Harris and the new ownership group to make?
- Truth or Exaggeration
-The Steelers will either sign a big-name free agent QB or draft a QB in the first or second round in 2024
-Despite his improved stats from last year, the Broncos should still be leaning toward parting ways with Russell Wilson next spring regardless of how many games they end up winning
-Whether in Chicago or elsewhere, Justin Fields will be a starting NFL QB in 2024
-Jordan Love will be the Packers starting QB in 2024
-If the Chargers lose two of their next three games, they should fire Brandon Staley and give OC Kellen Moore a 4-5 game tryout as interim HC
-Whoever loses this week's game between the Giants and Patriots can be locked in to one of the top-two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft
-The Vikings will wait until Week 14 to bring Justin Jefferson back
-If inconsistencies continue for the Jaguars on offense, Doug Pederson MUST take back the play-calling duties from OC Press Taylor
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Jaguars at Texans Preview
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Week 12 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: Dolphins over Jets, Hal: Lions over Packers)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Bills over Eagles, Hal: Raiders over Chiefs)
-Commanders at Cowboys
-49ers at Seahawks
-Panthers at Titans
-Bucs at Colts
-Saints at Falcons
-Patriots at Giants
-Steelers at Bengals
-Browns at Broncos
-Rams at Cardinals
-Ravens at Chargers
-Bears at Vikings
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Bills are down 21-10 with 6:00 left in the game. Then Josh Allen throws 60-yard TD to Khalil Shakir with 4:30 left. On ensuing drive, Rasul Douglas strips A.J. Brown at midfield and Bills recover with under 3:00 left. Then on 4th-and-goal, Josh Allen finds Dalton Kincaid for the game-winning TD
-Hal: Both the Browns and Broncos offenses fail to crack 50 net yards of total offense...and Broncos squeak out 3-0 win off a late turnover
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: All NFL fans...give the TV networks the eyeballs on Black Friday and make Black Friday NFL football an annual tradition!!!!
-DKrom: Offenses of teams with opportunistic defenses (Browns, Broncos, et al)...convert short fields into TD's, not field goals
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 10
-DKrom: C.J. Stroud has squarely entered the MVP conversation
-Hal: Deshaun Watson's season-ending injury puts the Browns playoff hopes in doubt
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: CeeDee Lamb, Hal: Jared Goff/Justin Herbert)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Bills STC Matthew Smiley, Hal: The 2021 QB class)
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Are you ready to double-down on your prediction last week that the Bills will not make the playoffs this year? How much of a difference do you think the firing of OC Ken Dorsey will make?
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Truth or Exaggeration
-If Josh Dobbs continues to play at the level he has the last two weeks, the Vikings will re-sign him instead of Kirk Cousins
-The Texans will win the AFC South
-Because of Deshaun Watson's season-ending shoulder injury, the Browns will not make the playoffs
-If Kyler Murray continues to play well and lead the Cardinals to 5-6 wins, the Cardinals should keep him unless they get a haul similar to the one the Texans got in the Deshaun Watson trade
-Either Lions OC Ben Johnson or Texans OC Bobby Slowik will be the head coach of the Chargers in 2024
-Falcons HC Arthur Smith will be fired unless they make the playoffs
-Sam Howell has earned another full season as the starting QB for the Commanders
-If the Bengals don't beat the Ravens this week, they won't make the playoffs
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Bengals at Ravens Preview
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Eagles at Chiefs Preview
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Week 11 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: Chargers over Packers, Hal: Cowboys over Panthers)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Rams over Seahawks, Hal: Jets over Bills)
-Steelers at Browns
-Bears at Lions
-Giants at Commanders
-Cardinals at Texans
-Titans at Jaguars
-Raiders at Dolphins
-Bucs at 49ers
-Vikings at Broncos
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Vikings force SEVEN turnovers in 30-10 blowout over the Broncos
-Hal: Broncos force FIVE turnovers in 20-17 win over the Vikings
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: Jets head coach Robert Saleh...keep your team together and stay close to .500!!!
-DKrom: Houston Texans...BEWARE THE TRAP GAME against the Cardinals!!!
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 9
-DKrom: C.J. Stroud has officially locked up 2023 OROY honors
-Hal: Logjam in the AFC at the top (and for the #7 seed), and in the NFC for the Wild Card seeds
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: Josh Dobbs, Hal: Ravens DC Mike Macdonald)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Arthur Smith, Hal: Bills OC Ken Dorsey)
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2023 Mid-season Awards
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Truth or Exaggeration
-The Panthers will never have success as long as David Tepper is the owner
-We now have a heavy favorite to win the NFC South...the New Orleans Saints
-Will Levis will be the Titans starting QB for the next decade
-If they finish the season with 8 or 9 wins, the Raiders should make Antonio Pierce the full-time head coach
-With Daniel Jones now out for the season, you can lock the Giants into one of the top three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft
-If the Jets offense struggles badly again this week against the Raiders, Zach Wilson must be benched for Trevor Siemian
-The Vikings, led by Josh Dobbs, will make the playoffs as a Wild Card
-The Buffalo Bills will NOT make the playoffs
- Super Bowl Contender or Super Bowl Pretender?
-Ravens
-Bengals
-Jaguars
-Dolphins
-Bills
-49ers
-Cowboys
-Lions
- Week 10 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: Cowboys over Giants, Hal: Cowboys over Giants)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Texans over Bengals, Hal: Jaguars over 49ers)
-Panthers at Bears
-Patriots at Colts
-Titans at Bucs
-Saints at Vikings
-Packers at Steelers
-Browns at Ravens
-Falcons at Cardinals
-Lions at Chargers
-Commanders at Seahawks
-Jets at Raiders
-Broncos at Bills
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Texans begin fourth quarter up 17-0, but C.J. Stroud and Texans score 21 unanswered points on three consecutive possessions, including another game-winning TD pass to Tank Dell with less than 30 seconds to go
-Hal: Trevor Lawrence hooks up with TE Evan Engram for 4 TD, including the game-winner in the final two minutes
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: Patriots, Bears, Giants, and Cardinals...EMBRACE COMPETITIVE LOSING!!
-DKrom: Buffalo Bills...start a run and start it strong with a dominant win over the Broncos on Monday night
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 8
-DKrom: Joe Burrow is back
-Hal: Bad matchups on paper exceed expectations
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: Will Levis, Hal: Josh Allen)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Jimmy Garoppolo, Hal: Brian Daboll)
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Do you think the Raiders did the right thing by pulling the plug on the McDaniels/Ziegler era now? Is it safe to say Jimmy G has played his final snap for the Raiders?
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Grading The Trades
-Commanders trade Montez Sweat to Bears for 2024 second-round pick (WAS: DKrom [A], Hal [A-]; CHI: DKrom [D+], Hal [F])
-Giants trade Leonard Williams to Seahawks for 2024 second-round pick and 2025 fifth-round pick (NYG: DKrom [B+], Hal [A]; SEA: DKrom [B+], Hal [B+])
-Commanders trade Chase Young to 49ers for 2024 third-round pick (WAS: DKrom [D], Hal [B-];. SF: DKrom [A], Hal [A])
- Truth or Exaggeration
-Even though he'll be 36 years old and coming off a torn Achilles, the Vikings must re-sign Kirk Cousins
-The Packers will bench Jordan Love for Sean Clifford after Thanksgiving (or even sooner) barring substantial improvement by Love
-Every team in the AFC North will finish with a record above .500
-The Seattle Seahawks will win the NFC West
-Taylor Heinicke will be the starting QB for the Falcons for the rest of the 2023 season
-Beating the Chiefs for the first time in 16 games proves that Sean Payton is doing a far better job as Broncos HC than Nathaniel Hackett
-If they start scoring more points, the Jaguars will be a serious contender for the AFC's #1 seed
-For the first time since the 2017 season, the Chiefs will NOT host the AFC Championship game
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Dolphins at Chiefs Preview
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Cowboys at Eagles Preview
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Week 9 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: Browns over Cardinals, Hal: Rams over Packers)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Cowboys over Eagles, Hal: Panthers over Colts)
-Titans at Steelers
-Seahawks at Ravens
-Commanders at Patriots
-Vikings at Falcons
-Bears at Saints
-Bucs at Texans
-Giants at Raiders
-Bills at Bengals
-Chargers at Jets
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Chiefs rising star CB Trent McDuffie picks off Tua twice, one for a pick-six in the first half, and the other in the final two minutes of regulation to seal the win for KC
-Hal: Rashid Shaheed scores 4 40+-yard TD's
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: Brian Daboll...vindicate my faith in you and get Daniel Jones back on track this week!!!
-DKrom: Minnesota Vikings...find a running game and stick with it!!!
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 7
-DKrom: Bills constantly play down to their competition
-Hal: Ravens offense FINALLY plays up to their potential
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: Lamar Jackson, Hal: Matt Eberflus/Luke Getsy)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Jimmy Haslam, Hal: Steve Wilks)
- Grading the Eagles trade for Titans All Pro S Kevin Byard
-DKrom (Eagles: A+, Titans: C+)
-Hal (Eagles: A+, Titans: B)
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Is it fair to expect the Vikings to win at least four of their next five games? Should the Vikings re-sign Kirk Cousins if he continues to play this good whether they make the playoffs or not?
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Whether they will is an entirely different story, Should the NFL adopt Jim Irsay's proposal to make all calls reviewable within the last two minutes of games?
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Truth or Exaggeration
-The Titans should start Will Levis and/or Malik Willis for the rest of the season
-A.J. Brown is a legitimate contender for 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year
-Myles Garrett is THE hands-down favorite for 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
-The Commanders MUST trade pass rusher Montez Sweat if they're able to get a second-round pick for him
-As long as Lamar Jackson stays healthy, the Ravens will be the most dangerous threat to the Chiefs for the 2023 AFC crown
-In order to ensure themselves one of the top-two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Cardinals should NOT play Kyler Murray this season
-49ers QB Brock Purdy's up-and-down performance against the Vikings is a more accurate reflection of the player he really is
-Chargers head coach Brandon Staley will be fired this coming Monday should his team get upset by the Tyson Bagent-led Bears
- Week 8 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: Ravens over Cardinals, Hal: Lions over Raiders)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Bengals over 49ers, Hal: Bengals over 49ers)
-Bucs at Bills
-Patriots at Dolphins
-Jets at Giants
-Eagles at Commanders
-Rams at Cowboys
-Jaguars at Steelers
-Vikings at Packers
-Texans at Panthers
-Saints at Colts
-Falcons at Titans
-Browns at Seahawks
-Chiefs at Broncos
-Bears at Chargers
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: A.J. Brown sets the single-game receiving yardage record against the dreadful Commanders secondary with 340, surpassing Flipper Anderson's 336 in 1989
-Hal: Both C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young throw for 400+ passing yards and 5 TD's...and Stroud throws a pick-six in OT
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: Joe Burrow and Bengals offense...start the hellacious part of your schedule off right with a W in San Fran
-DKrom: 49ers pass rush...get constant pressure on Joe Burrow or you will lose your third straight game
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 6
-DKrom: Browns defense shows why they're special
-Hal: Lions defense is dramatically improved from last year
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: Lou Anarumo, Hal: Kyren Williams)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Desmond Ridder, Hal: Tyrod Taylor)
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Does Jared Goff have a strong case for 2023 NFL MVP?
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Would you be surprised to see the Broncos permanently bench Russell Wilson by Week 13 or earlier barring a dramatic turnaround by him?
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Truth or Exaggeration
-If Justin Fields' dislocated right thumb forces him to miss most of the remainder of the season (if not all of it), you can lock the Bears into one of the top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft
-For the second consecutive season, the winner of the NFC South will win 8 games or less
-The Los Angeles Chargers will NOT make the playoffs in 2023
-The Patriots will win no more than four games in 2023
-The Panthers should trade Brian Burns at the deadline, especially if they can get two first-round picks for him
-Rookie WR Rashee Rice will be THE #2 option in the passing game for the Chiefs by Thanksgiving or earlier
-Regardless of what else happens this season, Robert Saleh has earned another year as head coach of the Jets
-The Lions will end up with a higher playoff seed than the Eagles
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Dolphins at Eagles Preview
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Week 7 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: Seahawks over Cardinals, Hal: 49ers over Vikings)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Lions over Ravens, Hal: Chargers over Chiefs)
-Jaguars at Saints
-Browns at Colts
-Falcons at Bucs
-Raiders at Bears
-Bills at Patriots
-Commanders at Giants
-Steelers at Rams
-Packers at Broncos
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Raiders defeat Bears 24-21...and both teams combine for 15 field goals
-Hal: Sean McDermott runs up the score in the fourth quarter and Josh Allen totals 8 TD (6 pass, 2 run)
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: Brandon Staley and Chargers...BACK ME UP AND UPSET THE CHIEFS!!!
-DKrom: Chiefs...run the ball more to complement your amazing defense
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 5
-DKrom: Bill Belichick and Sean Payton are proving Nick Sirianni right
-Hal: Miami Dolphins offense continues clicking on all cylinders
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: Fred Warner, Hal: D.J. Moore)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Ravens pass catchers, Hal: Scott Fitterer)
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Do you think Brock Purdy should be considered for 2023 NFL MVP if he and the 49ers keep this up?
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If the Bears end up with the first overall pick AND Justin Fields consistently plays at a very high level for the rest of the season, do the Bears A: Keep Fields and trade the top pick or B: Keep the top pick and trade Fields?
-
If the Vikings lose each of their next four games, would you consider putting Justin Jefferson on ice for the remainder of 2023?
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Truth or Exaggeration
-Joe Burrow is back to his old self and the Bengals will make the playoffs as a Wild Card team at minimum
-Due to the season-ending injuries to Tre'Davious White and Matt Milano, the Bills will not make it to Super Bowl LVIII
-The period leading up to the October 31 trading deadline will be busier than usual because of the QB's in the 2024 NFL Draft
-Lions TE Sam LaPorta will make All Pro as a rookie
-Bill Belichick will break Don Shula's record for all-time head coaching wins...as head coach of another team
-If the Chiefs don't score 40-50 points against the HISTORICALLY abysmal Broncos defense tonight...it's time to panic about their offense
- Week 6 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: Bills over Giants, Hal: Cowboys over Chargers)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Patriots over Raiders, Hal: Titans over Ravens)
-Broncos at Chiefs
-Colts at Jaguars
-Saints at Texans
-Commanders at Falcons
-Panthers at Dolphins
-Vikings at Bears
-Seahawks at Bengals
-49ers at Browns
-Cardinals at Rams
-Eagles at Jets
-Lions at Bucs
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Patriots/Raiders ends in similar fashion as it did last year...on a fumble-six at the gun...only this time the Patriots get the gift
-Hal: Raheem Mostert runs for 250+ yards and 4 TD's (including 3 from 40+ yards out)
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: All 1-4 teams...start rebuilding NOW and trade for assets to help put you in a position for one of the top two picks
-DKrom: Sean Payton, be willing to embrace a full-scale rebuild and see it through...or risk tarnishing your legacy forever
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 4
-DKrom: Bills, Ravens, Bucs and Lions show why they're the team to beat in their respective divisions
-Hal: Nick Sirianni coaching tree looking GREAT so far
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: DeMeco Ryans, Hal: Baker Mayfield)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Joe Schoen, Hal: Joe Barry)
- Quarter Pole Awards
-MVP (DKrom: Lamar Jackson, Hal: Tua Tagovailoa)
-Offensive POY (DKrom: Tua Tagovailoa, Hal: Christian McCaffrey)
-Defensive POY (DKrom: Micah Parsons, Hal: T.J. Watt)
-Offensive ROY (DKrom: C.J. Stroud, Hal: C.J. Stroud)
-Defensive ROY (DKrom: Jalen Carter, Hal: Jalen Carter)
-Comeback POY (DKrom: Matthew Stafford, Hal: Baker Mayfield)
-Coach of the Year (DKrom: Sean McDermott, Hal: Shane Steichen/Jonathan Gannon)
-Assistant Coach of the Year (DKrom: Dave Canales, Hal: Bobby Slowik)
- Truth or Exaggeration
-Mac Jones will NOT be the Patriots starting QB in 2024
-The Bengals should shut Joe Burrow down until his calf is 100%
-New Bears CEO Kevin Warren will break with organizational norms and fire Matt Eberflus during the season if the losing continues
-By season’s end, the Broncos defense will surrender more points than any other defense in NFL history
-Bengals WR Tee Higgins will be the Panthers top trade target
-Given his impressive work with Sam Howell thus far, Eric Bieniemy will be a top candidate to replace Ron Rivera as Commanders head coach should Rivera get fired
-Zach Wilson is finally turning a corner in his development
-If the 2023 Cowboys fail to make it to the NFC Championship, Dan Quinn will replace Mike McCarthy as head coach in 2024
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Cowboys at 49ers Preview
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Week 5 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: Lions over Panthers, Hal: Dolphins over Giants)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Rams over Eagles, Hal: Jaguars over Bills)
-Bears at Commanders
-Saints at Patriots
-Texans at Falcons
-Titans at Colts
-Ravens at Steelers
-Bengals at Cardinals
-Jets at Broncos
-Chiefs at Vikings
-Packers at Raiders
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Matthew Stafford throws for 500 yards, 360 of them to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, who total 180 receiving yards each. And Rams win in OT on a Puka Nacua TD for the second consecutive week…only this time, it’s on an end-around 50 yards to the house!!
-Hal: Josh Jacobs breaks Bo Jackson's single-game MNF rushing yardage record with 225
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: Panthers head coach Frank Reich...keep your team on track!!!
-DKrom: All NFL head coaches...if you score a TD while down seven in the final seconds…GO FOR TWO AND THE WIN!!!!
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 3
-DKrom: Cowboys defense just isn’t the same without Tre’Von Diggs
-Hal: D'Andre Swift emerges as the Eagles top back, helping Eagles win ugly
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: C.J. Stroud, Hal: Dolphins OL)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: George Paton, Hal: Josh McDaniels)
- Buy or Sell (As Division Title Contenders)
-Browns
-Colts
-Packers
-Seahawks
- Assessment Of 0-3 Teams
-Best 0-3 team: Vikings
-Worst 0-3 team: Bears
-Team most likely to get the #1 pick in the 2024 draft: Broncos
-Best unit (offense, defense or ST) of these four teams combined: Panthers defense
-Worst unit (offense, defense or ST) of these four teams combined: Bears defense
-Over or Under 5 wins by season’s end: Bears (under), Broncos (under), Panthers (over), Vikings (over)
- Truth or Exaggeration
-Jonathan Gannon will NOT be the one-and-done head coach as some analysts predicted he’d be before the season
-Eagles DT Jalen Carter is the early frontrunner for 2023 DROY
-The Saints will be getting an UPGRADE at QB with Jameis Winston as Derek Carr recovers from his shoulder sprain
-The Broncos MUST trade Pat Surtain II if they can get 2024 first and second-round picks for him
-Josh McDaniels will be fired as Raiders head coach barring dramatic improvement from the team over these next 15 weeks
-As good as the Steelers may still be collectively, Kenny Pickett is NOT the long-term solution for them at QB
-Matt Eberflus has the hottest seat of any head coach not named Brandon Staley
-Sean McDermott is an upgrade over Leslie Frazier as defensive play-caller for the Bills
- Dolphins at Bills Preview
-Which players have been the most pivotal to the Bills early-season success on defense without Von Miller?
-Is Devon Achane the new X factor for the Dolphins offense?
-Game-deciding matchups: Tyreek Hill/Jaylen Waddle vs. Micah Hyde/Jordan Poyer, Josh Allen vs. Bradley Chubb (in the run game and pass game)
-Game picks
- Week 4 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: Chiefs over Jets, Hal: Eagles over Commanders)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Patriots over Cowboys, Hal: Jets over Chiefs)
-Lions at Packers
-Falcons at Jaguars
-Bucs at Saints
-Vikings at Panthers
-Broncos at Bears
-Rams at Colts
-Steelers at Texans
-Bengals at Titans
-Ravens at Browns
-Raiders at Chargers
-Cardinals at 49ers
-Seahawks at Giants
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Justin Fields has 500 total yards (250 yards passing, 250 yards rushing) and 7 total TD (4 pass, 3 run) as Bears defeat Broncos 52-35
-Hal: Chiefs hold Jets to less than 100 yards of total offense, but upset the Chiefs 21-20 with TWO pick-sixes and a punt return TD
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: All teams that are 1-2...get that second win!!!!!
-DKrom: Eagles and 49ers...do NOT play down to your competition
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 2
-DKrom: Teams that massively disappointed in Week 1 bounced back
-Hal: Brandon Staley's time is up
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: Geno Smith, Hal: Steve Spagnuolo)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: Luke Getsy, Hal: Josh McDaniels)
-
Two of the NFL's most controversial rules rose to the surface in Week 2. First, we were reminded of the infamous touchback rule as Justin Jefferson fumbled the ball into the end zone from the goal line, giving the Eagles possession at their own 20. Second, we saw the "tush push" back in full force...and it wasn't just the Eagles. Their divisional rival Giants ran that play on a 4th-and-1 in the fourth quarter and as usual, the defense was put at a significant disadvantage. Should the NFL abolish both the “tush push” and the touchback rule next year?
-
Panic or Patience (0-2 teams)
-Bengals
-Chargers
-Panthers
-Vikings
-Patriots
- Super Bowl Contender or Super Bowl Pretender
-Cowboys
-Commanders
-Dolphins
-Falcons
-Ravens
-Saints
- Truth or Exaggeration
-The Browns trade and sign for Deshaun Watson will go down as THE worst move in NFL history unless he gets back to the level he played at earlier in his career
-Whoever loses the game between the Bears and the Broncos in Week 4 will end up with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft
-Since Chris Jones is unlikely to get a second franchise tag, 2023 will be his final season in Kansas City
-Rams WR Puka Nacua will be a serious candidate for 2023 Offensive ROY
-The significant injuries and subsequent lengthy absences of Lions DE James Houston and DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson significantly diminish Detroit's chances of winning the NFC North
-Barring dramatic improvement from Zach Wilson, the Jets should trade for Saints QB Jameis Winston
-Micah Parsons is now the best defensive player in the NFL
-If the offensive inconsistencies continue in Jacksonville, Doug Pederson should take back the play-calling duties from OC Press Taylor
- Week 3 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: Dolphins over Broncos, Hal: Cowboys over Cardinals)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Bucs over Eagles, Hal: Giants over 49ers)
-Bills at Commanders
-Patriots at Jets
-Chargers at Vikings
-Falcons at Lions
-Saints at Packers
-Colts at Ravens
-Titans at Browns
-Texans at Jaguars
-Panthers at Seahawks
-Bears at Chiefs
-Steelers at Raiders
-Rams at Bengals
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Dolphins lay a 50-burger on the Broncos. They score 56 points including three TD passes from Tua to former Bronco River Cracraft, and a strip-sack/fumble-six by former Bronco Bradley Chubb
-Hal: Giants RB Matt Breida rushes for 2 TD, catches 2 more (including the game winner on the final drive) against his former team
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell...RUN THE BALL and get that first W!!!
-DKrom: Chargers...win this weekend or kiss your 2023 playoff hopes goodbye
- Biggest Takeaways From Week 1
-DKrom: 49ers show why they're my pick to represent NFC in Super Bowl LVIII with DOMINANT showing in Pittsburgh
-Hal: Tua Tagovailoa looked like a man on a mission against the Chargers
- Weekly Honors
-GOAT Of The Week (DKrom: Jim Schwartz, Hal: Jordan Love)
-Dunce Of The Week (DKrom: The MetLife Stadium Turf, Hal: Buffalo Bills)
-
Do you think Aaron Rodgers has played the final snap of his NFL career?
-
Buy Or Sell: Playoff Contenders
-Rams
-Bucs
-Packers
-Patriots
- Truth or Exaggeration
-The Cowboys defense is better than the Eagles offense...and that's why the Cowboys will win the NFC East
-Josh Allen SORELY misses Brian Daboll
-DeMeco Ryans' Texans defense will be a top-10 unit in many (if not most) major statistical categories this season
-2023 will be Kirk Cousins' final season as a Minnesota Viking
-Brandon Staley will be fired as Chargers head coach after the season barring significant improvement on defense
-The Falcons will have the NFL’s highest-ranked rushing attack…and the NFL’s lowest-ranked passing attack
-Barring a sizable step forward by Justin Fields this season, the Bears will select a QB with one of the top-two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft
-The Chiefs should trade for Bucs WR Mike Evans
-
Chiefs at Jaguars Preview
-
Rest of Week 2 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: Eagles over Vikings, Hal: Bills over Raiders)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Patriots over Dolphins, Hal: Vikings over Eagles)
-Bears at Bucs
-Packers at Falcons
-Seahawks at Lions
-Colts at Texans
-Chargers at Titans
-Ravens at Bengals
-Giants at Cardinals
-49ers at Rams
-Commanders at Broncos
-Saints at Panthers
-Browns at Steelers
-Jets at Cowboys
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Chris Jones has 3 TFL, 1 pass deflection, and 3 sacks, including a strip/sack fumble recovery to clinch the game late in the fourth quarter!!!
-Hal: Kirk Cousins 3 TD passes to T.J. Hockenson in upset win over the Eagles
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: Jets...turn your love for Aaron Rodgers into love for Zach Wilson and BELIEVE IN HIM!!
-DKrom: Josh Allen, do better protecting the ball…and yourself
-
If you're Chiefs GM Brett Veach, what is the best thing for you to do right now other than caving to Chris Jones' demands?
-
In the event that Jonathan Taylor is healthy and ready to play after Week 4, which of the following is the most likely to happen: Taylor plays for the Colts, Taylor gets traded, or Taylor stays in Indy, yet refuses to play?
-
Which three players stood out the most to you in preseason play?
-DKrom: Jordan Love, Sam Howell, Kenny Pickett
-Hal: Michael Wilson, Rashee Rice, Luke Musgrave
- Truth or Exaggeration
-Caleb Williams will NOT declare for the 2024 NFL Draft if the Cardinals end up with the first overall pick
-The Steelers will be a serious contender to win the AFC North this season
-The Seahawks are the NFC's sleeper Super Bowl team
-The Jaguars will emerge as the biggest threat to the Chiefs for the AFC crown
-C.J. Stroud will have the best rookie season of the three QB's selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft
-Chase Young will be the 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year
-Lions OC Ben Johnson will be a head coach in 2024
-
Lions at Chiefs Preview
-
Bengals at Browns Preview
-
Bills at Jets Preview
-
Rest of Week 1 Picks
-Locks (DKrom: Commanders over Cardinals, Hal: Ravens over Texans)
-Upset Specials (DKrom: Titans over Saints, Hal: Cardinals over Commanders)
-Bucs at Vikings
-Panthers at Falcons
-49ers at Steelers
-Jaguars at Colts
-Packers at Bears
-Dolphins at Chargers
-Raiders at Broncos
-Eagles at Patriots
-Rams at Seahawks
-Cowboys at Giants
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: DeAndre Hopkins ends up with 3 receptions, 150 yards, and 3 TD
-Hal: Sam Howell throws three INT's leading to the Cardinals first of only two wins in 2023
- Challenge Flags
-Hal: Aaron Rodgers...get hot EARLY
-DKrom: Kenny Pickett, Sam Howell and Jordan Love...just be point guards and you'll be fine
-
After not making the final cut for a second straight year in 2022, just how much doubt did you have about this dream ever coming true? How were you able to overcome that mental hurdle?
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What was your experience as a Dallas Stars Ice Girl like? What in your mind, aside from the ice, distinguishes the atmosphere at an NHL game from those of the other three major sports leagues in North America?
-
Even though you weren't a DBC the previous two seasons, you were still on the field on game days as a member of the Broncos Orange Rush Flag Crew. Did that experience help at all in your quest to wear the chaps, and if so, how?
-
Other than Colorado, what would you say was the best place you've ever lived? What would you say was the best place you've ever traveled?
-
Do you view your job of being a social studies and history teacher as an extra important task given the times we are living in right now?
-
What has been the most memorable experience you've had as a DBC thus far? Has it officially sunk in that your dream has finally come true?
-
How hopeful are you about the Broncos this season and going forward with Sean Payton now in charge?
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Best Songs For DBC Routines
-Classic Rock: Thunderstruck (AC/DC)
-Country: Cowboy Casanova or Good Girl (Carrie Underwood)
-90's Pop: Supernova Girl (Kristian Rex(
-Taylor Swift: Shake It Off
- If Pom-Poms Were A ?
-If pom-poms were a musical instrument, what would they be? Maracas
-If pom-poms were a household appliance, what would they be? Washing machine
-If pom-poms were a vehicle, what would they be? Volkswagen Beetle Slug Bug (early 2000's)
-If pom-poms were a super power, what would they do? The power to make anybody feel cheerful and happy at any time
- Use one word to describe the following teammates of yours (and friends of the pod):
-Sophia F: Joyful
-Shannon: Empathetic
-Chelsea: Compassionate
-Biebele: Authentic
-Lily: Genuine
-Ariana: Multi-talented
-Berkleigh: Fearless
-
Do you see Ezekiel Elliott's role in New England as essentially a short-yardage/goal line back and nothing more?
-
Do you see Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook splitting carries 50/50 all season long?
-
Would it be wise to make a bet at this very moment on the Jets to lead the NFL in sacks this season?
-
Despite the WILD roller coaster ride Anthony Richardson has been in both camp and preseason play...and will likely be all season long...the Colts had no other choice but to name him their Week 1 starting QB, did they?
-
Taking Jimmy Garoppolo's injury history into account, should the Raiders be giving Aidan O'Connell reps with the first-string offense in practice starting now?
-
Do you think the Bears have the ingredients in place for Justin Fields to have a Josh Allen/Jalen Hurts-level breakout season?
-
If the Broncos OL doesn't show substantial improvement these next few weeks, do you think Russell Wilson gets benched due to injury (or poor performance) by Week 5, if not sooner?
-
Standout performers from Preseason Week 1
-DKrom: Jordan Love, Keeanu Benton
-Hal: Deuce Vaughn, Malik Cunningham
- What are the main things you're looking for in this week's preseason games?
-
Does the suspension of Charles Omenihu give Chris Jones additional leverage in contract negotiations with the Chiefs?
-
IF the Chiefs end up trading Chris Jones, what kind of package should they expect in return?
-
If Joe Burrow is just say 80-85% on the eve of the season opener against the Browns, should the Bengals rest him for the first game or two, if not longer?
-
What is the case for the Bills to be the team to dethrone the Chiefs in the AFC as opposed to the Bengals?
-
With Dan Snyder now (finally) out of the picture, does this whole ridiculous episode prove that Jim Irsay is now the worst owner in the NFL? If Jonathan Taylor is either traded or doesn't play this season, do you fear his absence will stunt the growth of Anthony Richardson?
-
If the Commanders offense doesn't gel quickly, do you see this as a situation where the wheels fall off fast given Ron Rivera's comments about Eric Bieniemy?
-
The Tennessee Titans are doing something very interesting for their preseason opener against the Bears. On Friday and Saturday (which is the day of the game), HC Mike Vrabel will transfer head coaching duties to Assistant Head Coach/DL coach Terrell Williams, who's regarded as a promising potential HC in league circles. I am personally a big fan of what Vrabel is doing here. So my question is Hal, should the NFL require every team to give one of their assistant coaches, especially a minority, a chance to build their resume by letting him be the acting head coach in a preseason game?
-
What are you watching for in the Texans/Patriots game tonight?
-
What are the main things you’ll be paying attention to in the rest of this week’s preseason slate?
-
As we mentioned in the intro, you're a Kansas native. Would you say most or all of your family are big Chiefs fans? If so, what's the dynamic like between you and them on game days when the Broncos play the Chiefs?
-
Coming out of college, what made you want to try out for Broncos?
-
After initially hanging up your chaps in 2018, did you ever think you'd want to be on the team again? What made you want to put the chaps back on after two seasons off?
-
What was your favorite children's books series growing up? What are some books you've read recently?
-
As I've said time and time again on this series, as demanding a job as an NFL cheerleader is, it's only a part-time gig...and you and all of your teammates work full-time day jobs just like all of us do. Describe for us in-depth exactly what you do in the tech industry.
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Just a few weeks ago, you were down in Miami with your fellow SI swimsuit finalists for a fun weekend get-together. What made that such a bucket list experience? In addition, the folks listening to this at home that want you to be chosen as the next SI swimsuit model still have plenty of time to vote for you. How, how often and for how long can people do so?
-
How hopeful are you about the Broncos this season and going forward with Sean Payton now in charge?
-
Country Music This Or That (Which Song Makes The Better DBC Routine?)
-Boot Scootin' Boogie (Brooks & Dunn) or Knockin' Boots (Luke Bryan)
-When It Rains It Pours (Luke Combs) or Hannah Ford Road (Luke Combs)
-Dirt On My Boots (Jon Pardi) or Alright (Darius Rucker)
-She Had Me At Heads Carolina (Cole Swindell) or LA (Lainey Wilson)
- Country Music Superlatives
-Best country song to get you pumped up before a game: She's Country (Jason Aldean)
-Best country song to celebrate a Broncos win to: This Is How We Roll (Luke Bryan & Florida Georgia Line)
-Country song that best describes the person you are: Country Girl [Shake It For Me] (Luke Bryan)
-Country Music "Mount Rushmore" (Your four best country artists of all time): Morgan Wallen, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Kenny Chesney
- What are the core characteristics that best describe a truly beautiful person?
-
Do you think the Chiefs pass rush is the main area that could potentially prevent them from winning their third Super Bowl in five years...or is it something else?
-
Do you think 2023 could be the best season in Justin Herbert's career to date with Kellen Moore now calling the plays?
-
Would you fault anybody for betting on the Panthers to be NFC South champions in 2023?
-
Do you think it's a good bet that the Texans win 5, 6, or even 7 games this season as opposed to just 3 or 4?
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How possible is it that we see a similar stat-line from Anthony Richardson in 2023 to the one Fields put up in 2022?
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If he doesn't have a similar year three growth spurt as Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts, then how would you define what a successful 2023 campaign for Justin Fields looks like?
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On a scale of 1-to-10 how concerned are you about Jalen Hurts taking a sizable step backwards with Steichen no longer calling the plays?
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Based on what you saw on tape, how optimistic are you about Brock Purdy being the long-term answer at QB in San Francisco?
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As I mentioned a few minutes ago, headed into the season, it is very hard to find a legit Super Bowl contender in the NFC outside of Philly and San Francisco. That said, which other NFC team, if you had to pick one, do you see as on the cusp of becoming a formidable threat to win it all this year?
-
Come January, will Trevor Lawrence be considered by the consensus as a top-five QB in the NFL today?
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If Deshaun Watson plays anywhere remotely close to the level he played at in Houston, are the Browns a serious threat to win the division, if not the conference championship?
-
Do you think the Dolphins are far better equipped to weather the storm of say a 3-4 game absence for Tua this year compared to last year?
-
Do you think Aaron Rodgers has one more MVP-level season in him and if not, what is the most realistic expectation for Aaron Rodgers this season?
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Which team is more likely to overtake the Bills for the AFC East crown: Dolphins or Jets?
-
Bold and Not-So-Bold Predictions (Buy or Sell)
-Bijan Robinson leads the NFL in rushing yards
-Russell Wilson gets benched in Week 4, and Jarrett Stidham starts the rest of the season at QB for the Broncos
-Jonathan Gannon will be a one-and-done head coach in Arizona
-The Packers make the playoffs as a Wild Card…with Jordan Love having a very similar season as the one Geno Smith had last year
-Garrett Wilson wins OPOY honors
-Patriots and Steelers both finish last in their divisions…despite winning 9 games each
-Both Los Angeles teams will be searching for new head coaches after the season
-
What made Sean Payton change his mind and decide to take the Broncos job, rather than stay in broadcasting for another year?
-
The first order of business for Sean Payton in Denver is trying to fix Russell Wilson, who had, by far, the worst year of his career in 2022. In your view, what is the most realistic expectation for Russell Wilson this season?
-
Just how short of a leash is Russell Wilson on? If he starts out the season and plays just as bad as he did last year, could we see Jarrett Stidham start by Week 5, if not sooner?
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If the season goes south with Russell Wilson showing he’s beyond repair and the Broncos only winning 5-6 games again, can you see Sean Payton embracing the challenge of doing a full-scale rebuild, or something close to it?
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Which of these four free agent signings do you see making the biggest impact for the Broncos this season: G Ben Powers, RT Mike McGlinchey, RB Samaje Perine or DL Zach Allen?
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Which of the Broncos five 2023 draft picks do you anticipate playing the biggest role this season?
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Do you think the odds are Javonte Williams plays in Week 1 or shortly thereafter?
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Do you think it's more likely we see Baron Browning on the field at some point this season, or is there a good chance he might not play at all in 2023?
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Which training camp position battles will you be paying the most attention to and why?
-
According to BetMGM, the Broncos Over/Under win total for this season is set at 8.5. Will the Broncos win more or less than 8 games this season?
-
Is it fair to expect Anthony Richardson to assume the starting job some time within the first five weeks of the season?
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Even though he missed all of OTA’s, do the Colts still plan for JuJu Brents to be one of the starters at boundary corner this year?
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When it comes to Josh Downs, does he figure to be featured in the Colts 11-personnel packages regularly this season?
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As much as I loved what the Colts did on Day 2 of the draft, I loved what they did on Day 3 even more. Three of their picks in rounds 4-7 that stood out to me were South Carolina CB Darius Rush and two guys who played right up the road from me at Northwestern: DT Adetomiwa Adebawore and RB Evan Hull. Which of those aforementioned Colts Day 3 picks would you say is most likely to make the biggest impact this season?
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The Colts don't only have a very promising crop of rookies. They also have some very promising guys entering their second season in the league, especially on offense, where they have three players who they spent premium draft picks on last year. Which of those 2022 draft selections is poised to make the biggest “sophomore leap” this season in Steichen's offense: WR Alec Pierce, TE Jelani Woods or LT Bernhard Raimann?
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In the Colts eyes, what was the biggest culprit for their uncharacteristically poor OL performance last year, and should we be expecting a dramatic bounce back campaign for this unit as well as the run game in 2023?
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What’s the latest on Shaquille Leonard’s health and is he expected to be ready to go by Week 1?
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Which Colts training camp battles will you be watching the most and why?
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According to BetMGM, the Colts Over/Under win total for this season is set at 6.5. Do you think the Colts win more or less than 6 games this season?
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What is your understanding as to how big of a role [new Eagles offensive coordinator] Brian Johnson played in developing Jalen Hurts into the player he is right now?
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Outside of having Jalen Hurts, for what reasons will the 2023 Eagles offense minus Shane Steichen NOT take a significant step back?
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On the other side of the ball, the Eagles replaced Jonathan Gannon with Sean Desai, who was Seahawks associate head coach last season and Bears defensive coordinator the season before. Somebody I know of who studied Desai's units in Seattle and Chicago noticed that he is an elite secondary coach, but his run defenses often leave much to be desired. Last season, the main weakness on the entire Eagles team was stopping the run. Do you have any level of concern that the Eagles run defense could get even worse before it gets better this year?
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Would you anticipate seeing Jalen Carter on the field for around 50% of the snaps or more in 2023, or would you expect him to be a more rotational player before he permanently succeeds Fletcher Cox in 2024?
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Do the Eagles believe Nolan Smith has some noticeable skills that Hassan Reddick doesn't bring? With Nolan Smith now in the fold, do you think there's a pretty high likelihood that Hassan Reddick will only be an Eagle for two more years maximum?
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Do you get the sense within the organization that the plan for Tyler Steen is for him to be the starting RG in 2024, if not sooner?
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Would it surprise you if Sydney Brown eventually overtakes one of Terrell Edmunds or Reed Blankenship at some point this season? Even if Sydney Brown is not a "starter" this season, do you expect Sean Desai to run a healthy amount of dime packages with him on the field?
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Which players who aren't well known at the national level stood out the most for the Eagles during this year's offseason program?
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What Eagles training camp battles are you keeping a close eye on and why?
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Which NFC team is the biggest threat to de-throne the Eagles as conference champions this season?
- NFC North
-Bears (Was Darnell Wright worth it with the #10 overall pick? Why Bill is more bullish on Gervon Dexter, Sr. than he is on Zaach Pickens. What is Roschon Johnson's likely role in the Bears offense? Why Bill believes the selection of Tyler Scott should NOT preclude the Bears from re-signing Darnell Mooney)
-Lions (Why did the Lions ignore positional value in the first round? Why Sam LaPorta over Michael Mayer? What roles will Brian Branch play this season with similarly versatile DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the fold as well?)
-Packers (Why Lukas Van Ness must be utilized very similarly as George Karlaftis. How do Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft complement one another?)
-Vikings (Why is Jordan Addison a worthy successor to Adam Thielen?)
- NFC South
-Panthers (Why did Carolina take Bryce Young over C.J. Stroud? What does Jonathan Mingo bring to the Panthers offense right away?)
-Falcons (What role does Tyler Allgeier play with Bijan Robinson now the lead RB in Atlanta? Why will Zach Harrison have a healthy role in the Falcons base defense this year?)
-Saints (Bill on why overall expectations for Bryan Bresee and Isaiah Foskey must be tempered. What makes Kendre Miller a worthy long-term replacement for Alvin Kamara?)
-Bucs (Why is Calijah Kancey in excellent position to thrive in Tampa? Bill on why he LOVES rookie pass rushers YaYa Diaby and Jose Ramirez)
- NFC East
-Commanders (Why is Emmanuel Forbes a better scheme fit for Washington than Christian Gonzalez? Why did the Commanders choose Jartavius Martin over his fellow versatile Illinois DB Sydney Brown?)
-Giants (Why did the Giants select the higher ceiling Deonte Banks over the higher floor Joey Porter, Jr.? What are the best long-term expectations for Jalin Hyatt?)
-Cowboys (Is Micah Parsons excitement about Mazi Smith warranted? How does Luke Schoonmaker help the Cowboys execute their new offensive system right away?)
-Eagles (If the Eagles keep Hassan Reddick in the fold for another 2-4 years, how will Nolan Smith be utilized? Does Tyler Steen have a shot at the starting right guard spot this year? What makes Sydney Brown so special and what will his role be this season?)
- NFC West
-Cardinals (Why were Paris Johnson, Jr., Garrett Williams and Michael Wilson all very good pick to establish the new culture?)
-Seahawks (Does the addition of Devon Witherspoon make this the best Seattle secondary since the Legion of Boom? Do the Seahawks have the most dangerous WR trio in the NFL outside Cincinnati with the addition of Jaxon Smith-Njigba? Why Bill believes Kenneth Walker III will still receive two-thirds of the carries despite the selection of Zach Charbonnet)
-Rams (What should we expect from rookie edge rushers Byron Young, Nick Hampton and Ochaun Mathis this season? Can Stetson Bennett be a good "bridge QB" in addition to being a good backup?)
-49ers (How will Ji'Ayir Brown complement Talanoa Hufanga?)
-
What would you say were the "secret ingredients" that separated UNLV from other college cheer/dance teams? Do you still keep in regular contact with your college teammates who cheer for other NFL teams during the season and try your best to make it out to their games if possible?
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When you were a kid, you starred on a Colorado PBS children's TV program. Would you say that experience helped prepare you for that interview and all other public aspects of being a DBC?
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When did you get your insurance license and what kind of insurance do you help sell?
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Thus far, what would you say your most memorable experience as a DBC has been?
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Do you feel a special, deep bond and level of trust with your 27 teammates that you'd be willing to lay down your very life for them? Who are some of YOUR biggest influences in any realm (sports, music, business, family, et al) when it comes to leadership and teamwork?
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In 1999, while beginning a search for a new head coach, the Philadelphia Eagles did some in-depth psychological research on all the great NFL head coaches and what made them so successful. And the conclusion that they drew was that all these coaches were beloved by their players but at the same time, were people you couldn't take advantage of and tended to annoy their players with how extremely detail-oriented they were. And the candidate that best matched those aforementioned traits was somebody named Andy Reid...and we obviously know what he has done since then. Do you see similar traits in your DBC coaches and choreographers...and in yourself as well?
-
How hopeful are you about the Broncos this season and beyond with Sean Payton now running the show?
-
Broncos 2023 Season Predictions
-Rushing yards leader: Javonte Williams
-Receiving yards leader: Tim Patrick
-Leader in total TD (rushing and receiving combined): Tim Patrick
-Leader in sacks: Baron Browning
-Leader in interceptions: Pat Surtain II
-Regular season record: 14-3 or 15-2
- 2023 NBA Finals Prediction
-Nuggets/Celtics scenario: Nuggets in 6
-Nuggets/Heat scenario: Nuggets in 7
- AFC South
-Texans (How good of a fit is Houston for C.J. Stroud? Why was Will Anderson, Jr. worth the price the Texans surrendered to move up and get him?)
-Colts (Will Anthony Richardson start Week 1? Why is Mark bullish on Evan Hull?)
-Titans (Can Peter Skoronski thrive at tackle in the NFL? How soon should the Titans play Will Levis?)
-Jaguars (What are the chances Anton Harrison takes the Jaguars LT job permanently this season? Why will Antonio Johnson be an important piece to their defense?
- AFC West
-Raiders (Will Maxx Crosby and Tyree Wilson become a top-five pass rush duo by the end of this season? Did the Raiders strike gold at CB on Day 3 again with Jakorian Bennett?)
-Broncos (What is the best role for Drew Sanders? Did they make the most of their five picks?)
-Chargers (What skills does Quentin Johnston bring the Chargers offense that neither Keenan Allen nor Mike Williams do? What are the expected roles for Tuli Tuipulotu and Daiyan Henley this season?)
-Chiefs (Why should we expect to see Felix Anudike-Uzomah on the field early and often? How more interesting does Rashee Rice make KC's WR room?)
- AFC East
-Jets (Why will Will McDonald IV emerge as the Jets best edge pass rusher by season's end? Why does the selection of Joe Tippmann give the Jets extra flexibility on their offensive line?)
-Patriots (Why do you think Christian Gonzalez fell outside of the top-15? How will Bill Belichick utilize Keion White this season?)
-Dolphins (Why will Mike McDaniel give Devon Achane a heavy dose of snaps, even though he won't get a lot of touches?)
-Bills (Is Dalton Kincaid Josh Allen's most dangerous weapon outside of Stefon Diggs right now? In what area does O'Cyrus Torrence help the Bills the most?)
- AFC North
-Browns (Can you see Cedric Tillman emerging as a go-to red zone option for Deshaun Watson this season at minimum? Why is Mark bullish on both Dawand Jones and Luke Wypler eventually emerging as starters?)
-Steelers (Do the selections of Broderick Jones and Darnell Washington imply the Steelers will be a run-heavy offense this season? Why should the Steelers be optimistic about Joey Porter, Jr. and Keeanu Benton?)
-Ravens (Does the selection of Zay Flowers give Lamar Jackson his best set of receiving weapons in his career to date?)
-Bengals (Would you be surprised if Jordan Battle ends up making the biggest contribution this season out of their first three picks? Why is Chase Brown a serious candidate to be the Bengals starting RB in 2024?)
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What made you eye Broncos as the second chance of your NFL cheer career? Did it feel better to you making DBC the first time or the second time?
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Explain how you coaxed your teammate (and previous guest on the podcast) Biebele out of "dance retirement" and what about her made you believe she could make the team last season even though she hadn't danced professionally for several years before then?
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This past season, you achieved a pretty memorable milestone by helping design the DBC Christmas-themed uniforms. Looking forward, do you see yourself doing similar things for other NFL or NBA cheer/dance teams on a regular basis?
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What are some of your absolute favorite hikes you’ve been on within the continental United States…and do you have any interesting hikes planned for the future?
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The DBC, unlike most NFL cheer squads, are compromised of less than 30 members (28 to be exact). In your view, what are the advantages of being on a team with 27 other women with Broncos as opposed to 35 other women with Cowboys? Does smaller squad size make the camaraderie and bonds even stronger?
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How hopeful are you about the Broncos this season and beyond with Sean Payton now in charge?
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Country Music This or That (Which Song Makes The Better DBC routine?)
-"Boot Scootin' Boogie" (Brooks & Dunn) or "Knockin' Boots" (Luke Bryan)
-"Cowboy Hat" (Jon Pardi) or "Short Skirt Weather" (Kane Brown)
-"When It Rains It Pours" (Luke Combs) or "Hannah Ford Road" (Luke Combs)
-"Hillbilly Hippie" (Lainey Wilson) or "LA" (Lainey Wilson)
-"She Had Me At Heads Carolina" (Cole Swindell) or "'Til You Can't" (Cody Johnson)
- Country Music Superlatives
-Best country song to get you pumped up before a game: "Man! I Feel Like A Woman!" (Shania Twain)
-Best country song to celebrate a Broncos win to: "Proud of the House We Built" (Brooks & Dunn)
-Best country song for a first dance at a wedding: "Amazed" (Caleb & Kelsey)
-Country song that best describes the person you are: "I Love This Life" (Locash)
- How would you define the word “cheerleader”?
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How would you grade the Aaron Rodgers trade for both the Packers and the Jets?
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How big of a mistake are the Texans making by passing on a C.J. Stroud at 2? If you're Nick Caserio, do you trade out of the #2 overall pick if say the Raiders at 7 give you their first-round pick in 2024 to move up and get their QB?
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If you are new Titans GM Ran Carthon, are you willing to trade all the way up to 3 with the Cardinals, especially if you think the Colts are eyeing the same QB you are, or are you only willing to move up as high as say 9 with the Bears?
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Would you be surprised to see the Vikings make a similar move up the board as the Bears did for Justin Fields two years ago with say the Eagles at 10 should Levis or Anthony Richardson fall that far?
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Would you figure that 10 overall to Philly is Bijan Robinson's ceiling, whereas his floor is 18 overall to the Lions?
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Do you see Jalen Carter falling past the Seahawks at five?
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Can you see a scenario in which only three WR go in the first round, if not two?
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Which team would you say is under the most pressure to come away with a good draft haul this year?
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Final first-round mock (with trades)
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If either Anthony Richardson or Will Levis (or both) fall past the Raiders at 7, do you trade up to get them if you're Commanders GM Martin Mayhew and head coach Ron Rivera?
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Generally speaking, would it be more ideal for the Giants to draft a WR in the first round (say Quentin Johnston) and a corner in round 2 (say Julius Brents) or the other way around with say Emmanuel Forbes and Marvin Mims?
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Once the Cowboys season ended with another tough playoff loss to the 49ers, people immediately began mocking WR's to them at that 26th overall pick. But since then, they traded for Brandin Cooks and Mike McCarthy said in no uncertain terms at his Combine press conference that he wants to run the ball a lot more. Based on those two tea-leaves, do you think it's far more likely that the Cowboys choose to fill the guard position opposite Zach Martin at 26 with Steve Avila or O'Cyrus Torrence than take a wide receiver or tight end?
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Do you think it's far more likely the Eagles double-dip up front with their two first round picks than they take Bijan Robinson? If you're Howie Roseman, and you love Jalen Carter, how far up the board would you be willing to move up to get him?
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Commanders three-round mock
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Giants three-round mock
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Cowboys three-round mock
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Eagles three-round mock
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Do you think the Jets trade with the Packers for Aaron Rodgers goes down during the draft or after the draft? Outside of offensive line, do you see any other glaring holes on this Jets roster?
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If the Patriots do not select Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the first round, do you think they're more likely to trade for a veteran WR like DeAndre Hopkins than take one in the second round?
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Based on what the Dolphins have recently done, do you think anything less than a deep playoff run this season should be considered a failure for them? What, if anything, do the Dolphins absolutely need to come away with in this draft?
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As their awful playoff loss to the Bengals last season showed, the Buffalo Bills still have several major areas of need to address in order for them to take that next big step forward. First, they need another big threat to rush the passer opposite of Von Miller. Second, they need some upgrades on the offensive line in order to better protect Josh Allen. And last but certainly not least, they need another threat at WR or a do-it-all running back in order to make sure the offense doesn't stagnate or take a step backward. If you're Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott, which of those three areas of need would be most ideal to address with that 27th overall pick?
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Jets three-round mock
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Patriots three-round mock
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Dolphins three-round mock
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Bills three-round mock
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If you're a Bears fan, would you be equally as happy (if not happier) if the Bears trade down with say the Steelers at 17 and get Darnell Wright there as opposed to staying at 9 and taking Paris Johnson, Jr. or Peter Skoronski?
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Assuming the top OT's, CB's and EDGE players are off the board by the 15th overall pick, do you think the Packers should take Jaxon Smith-Njigba or even Dalton Kincaid with that selection?
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If you were a betting man, would you place a bet on the Lions winning the NFC North literally RIGHT NOW in anticipation of those odds only going up after the draft? Do you think the Lions are making a mistake by not making such a move, even if they don't love any of the QB's that fall past the Texans?
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Assuming none of the top four QB's slide past the top-seven, how much sense would it make to you if the Vikings trade down into the early second round and roll the dice on Hendon Hooker?
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Bears three-round mock
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Packers three-round mock
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Lions three-round mock
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Vikings three-round mock
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Do you think Elijah Moore is as good a talent or better than the WR's and TE's that would likely have been available for the Browns at 42? What are the Browns biggest remaining areas of need?
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How do you think new Steelers GM Omar Khan will approach the draft differently (even in the most subtle of ways) than his predecessor Kevin Colbert?
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How should Eric DeCosta and John Harbaugh use this draft to further mend fences with Lamar Jackson even further?
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If you're the Bengals and had to choose between Darnell Washington and Brian Branch, who would be the pick at 28 and why?
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Browns three-round mock
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Steelers three-round mock
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Ravens three-round mock
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Bengals three-round mock
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Come draft weekend, do you think the Broncos go with George Paton's "more darts" approach, Sean Payton's "quality over quantity" approach, or somewhere in between? Would you anticipate the Broncos trading Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy or both during the draft?
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If you're Raiders GM Dave Ziegler, do you move heaven and earth to get a deal done with Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort (who he knows very well from their time together in New England) by some time next week (if not sooner), rather than waiting until the night of the draft to pull the trigger?
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After this season, the Chargers may have to part ways with players like Keenan Allen, Khalil Mack, and J.C. Jackson in order to save more cap space and cash to fund an extension for Justin Herbert. If you're Chargers GM Tom Telesco, do you use this draft to plan a year ahead by selecting players you think can both contribute in situational roles this year and replace the production of those aforementioned players in 2024?
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If the Chiefs, who have 10 picks this year, can get say one-fifth of the haul they got last year, would you consider that a success?
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Broncos three-round mock
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Raiders three-round mock
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Chargers three-round mock
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Chiefs three-round mock
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The latest buzz suggests that there's a good chance the Texans actually pass on taking a QB at 2 if the Panthers select Bryce Young, and the drumbeat of Young indeed being Carolina's choice is growing louder and louder. Are you hearing similar and if so, do you anticipate the Texans trying to trade out of that #2 overall pick should that scenario come to pass?
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I have not heard any buzz that says the Colts are willing to move up a spot to ensure they land their preferred QB. Have you heard otherwise, and if not, is Chris Ballard just begging to be fired after this season, if not sooner?
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Do you think trading up to #3 overall for Will Levis would end up being a massively historical mistake for the Titans?
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As of right now, the Jaguars have an excellent opportunity ahead of them to put a stranglehold on the AFC South for the foreseeable future. When you look at Jacksonville's roster right now, what areas of need should they attack early and often in this draft in order to help them do so?
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Texans three-round mock
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Colts three-round mock
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Titans three-round mock
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Jaguars three-round mock
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Your colleague and right-hand man at Team NBS Media (and a regular on this program as well) Jeff Barnes said that this LB group is one of the weakest positions in this year's draft. Do you agree?
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When it comes to Trenton Simpson, what is THE absolute best role for him off the bat?
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The dilemma when it comes to Drew Sanders for whoever selects him is to either make him a pass rusher most of the time, or to continue and develop his still raw off-ball LB chops and make him a Tremaine Edmunds kind of weapon for your defense. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com believes Drew Sanders can evolve into the latter while Doug Farrar of the USA Today Touchdown Wire believes Sanders will be best as a full-time pass rusher with a healthy amount of box snaps a la Connor Barwin. Do you agree with Zierlein or Farrar's assessment...and why?
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Even if Jack Campbell's play never lives up to his athletic testing, does the team that selects him have every reason to believe he will be a high-floor, long-term starter for them?
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Given the premium NFL teams place on linebackers that can cover ground in a hurry these days, would it surprise you if Daiyan Henley hears his name called in the late third round, if not sooner?
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Buy Or Sell: DeMarvion Overshown, Henry To'o To'o, Yasir Abdullah, Ventrell Miller, Owen Pappoe, Dorian Williams, Noah Sewell, Ivan Pace, Jr., Jeremy Banks, SirVocea Dennis, Aubrey Miller, Jr., Mohamoud Diabate
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If you're Monti Ossenfort, do you only consider trading down to 7 with the Raiders to put yourself in position to get a player like Tyree Wilson or Christian Gonzalez (both of whom the Cardinals reportedly love) or do you trade down to 11 if the Titans give you essentially the same package as the Panthers gave the Bears? With buzz swirling that the Texans may pass on a QB at 2 should the Panthers select Bryce Young, should the Cardinals wait until they're on the clock to trade the pick, or should they cut a deal a week or so before the draft?
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Do you think the Rams are entering a rebuild? What areas of need would you emphasize the most in this draft if you're Rams GM Les Snead?
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How would you feel if the Seahawks traded up a few spots with the Cardinals to select Anthony Richardson who they reportedly like a lot? Even with 10 picks total in the draft, would you anticipate John Schneider trying to accumulate even more by trading down from 20?
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Who are some players likely to go on Day 3 this year that you think are excellent fits for the 49ers?
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Cardinals three-round mock
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Rams three-round mock
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Seahawks three-round mock
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49ers three-round mock
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Is there equally as strong of a case for either Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud to be the top pick, or would you strongly prefer Stroud if you were in the Panthers front office?
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Why aren't the Falcons urgently working to find that long-term answer at QB?
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Do you share the assessment that the Saints roster is "old" and "not particularly well-built?" Should Mickey Loomis and Dennis Allen approach this draft differently than they've done in the past by say trading down as opposed to trading up?
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In a hypothetical scenario with both Robinson and Darnell Wright available when the Bucs are on the clock at 19, in which direction would you go and why?
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Panthers three-round mock
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Falcons three-round mock
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Saints three-round mock
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Bucs three-round mock
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Christian Gonzalez is almost universally expected to be the top corner off the board, likely within the top-10 picks. What makes Gonzalez such a special prospect?
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Do you see Devon Witherspoon as worthy of a top-15 pick...or do his size and athleticism (or lack thereof) give you pause?
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Do you think Joey Porter, Jr.'s best possible fit is with a team that plays a very heavy amount of press coverage...or can he thrive in most other schemes despite those aforementioned weak spots in his game?
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One of the stars of the Combine at the CB position was Maryland's Deonte Banks. He ran a blazing 4.35 40, jumped a jaw-dropping 42" vertical and 11'4" broad. In your view, does his tape match those traits and thus qualify him for a top-25 selection, if not higher?
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What else aside from speed will D.J. Turner bring to an NFL defense right away...and is he worth a top-50 pick in your view?
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How concerned should teams be about Emmanuel Forbes' long-term durability in the NFL at his current weight?
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Do you believe Clark Phillips III, even at that petite size, can be trusted to cover the "big slots" in today's NFL?
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If Brian Branch falls to Day 2, how big of a steal will the team that selects him be getting?
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Buy Or Sell: Kelee Ringo, Cam Smith, Julius Brents, Terell Smith, Tyrique Stevenson, Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, Darius Rush, Jakorian Bennett, Antonio Johnson, Jordan Battle, J.L. Skinner, Ji'Ayir Brown, Sydney Brown
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How does Will Anderson compare to some of the other generational EDGE prospects of the past 12 years (Von Miller, Khalil Mack, etc.) and did you like his college tape better than any of them?
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What makes Jalen Carter such a special talent...and if YOU were a GM of a team picking in the top-10, would you still take him if he fell to you?
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Why do you think some teams are equally as high (or even higher) on Tyree Wilson than they are on Will Anderson?
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Lukas Van Ness out of Iowa is an intriguing prospect because he can get to the QB from either the edges or the interior. If you were an NFL defensive coordinator, where would you line him up more often and why?
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What on Nolan Smith's game film makes him worth a selection in the top-15...and what do you think the best role for him is during his first few NFL seasons?
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How much additional upside do you see in Myles Murphy when it comes to getting after the QB?
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Do you think Calijah Kancey's size will knock him out of the first round?
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Did you see enough flashes on Adetomiwa Adebawore's game film that justify a team using such a premium draft pick on him?
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Buy Or Sell: Keion White, Will McDonald IV, Tuli Tuipulotu, Derick Hall, Isaiah Foskey, B.J. Ojulari, Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Zach Harrison, Bryan Bresee, Mazi Smith, Siaki Ika, Jaquelin Roy, Keeanu Benton, Gervon Dexter, Sr., Cameron Young
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Do you think Peter Skoronski, like Jets star G Alijah Vera-Tucker, can be that type of player who's a great guard yet can also do an above-average job playing tackle if the situation warrants it?
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What makes Paris Johnson, Jr. a worthy investment as a top-10 pick? Why is he the top offensive tackle on your board?
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What is the argument for say the Bears with the ninth overall pick to prefer Broderick Jones over Paris Johnson, Jr.?
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When looking at Darnell Wright's tape, did the ability he display against Will Anderson in that game show up consistently enough for you to spend a first-round pick on him?
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When you watch O'Cyrus Torrence on tape, do you see a guy who's fully capable of overcoming those limitations and thus worthy of a late-first round selection?
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What other attributes of Steve Avila's game, other than positional versatility, stood out to you on tape?
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Why do you think John Michael Schmitz will probably be the top-ranked center on many (if not most) NFL draft boards?
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Is there a sleeper OL prospect in this class that you don't believe is getting the attention he deserves? If so, who is that prospect and why do you like his game so much?
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Buy Or Sell: Matthew Bergeron, Dawand Jones, Anton Harrison, Jaelyn Duncan, Tyler Steen, Cody Mauch, Jon Gaines II, Joe Tippmann, Luke Wypler, Ricky Stromberg, Olu Oluwatimi, Juice Scruggs
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What makes Bijan Robinson arguably the best prospect at the running back position since Saquon Barkley?
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Do you think being an RB2 in a rotation with a limited carry count is the best possible role for Jahmyr Gibbs at the NFL level...or can he be even more?
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Do you think Devon Achane is worth a top-50 pick?
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Would you be surprised if Zach Charbonnet is the third RB to go off the board, if not the second ahead of Jahmyr Gibbs?
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Do you think Tyjae Spears has more than some think as a pass catcher in order to become the weapon at least I think he can become at the NFL level?
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Is there a sleeper RB prospect in this class that you don't believe is getting the attention he deserves? If so, who is that prospect and why do you love him so much?
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Buy Or Sell: Zach Evans, Eric Gray, Tank Bigsby, Mohamed Ibrahim, Kenny McIntosh, Roschon Johnson, Deuce Vaughn, Chris Rodriguez, Jr., Evan Hull, Kendre Miller, Cam Peoples
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Team Fits
-Bijan Robinson: Bills, Bengals
-Jahmyr Gibbs: Saints, Steelers, Giants, Texans
-Devon Achane: Chiefs, Jaguars, Bears, Commanders, Dolphins
-Zach Charbonnet: Cowboys, Cardinals, Lions, Bucs
-Chase Brown: Cowboys, Patriots, Titans
-Tyjae Spears: Steelers, Bucs, Chargers, Saints, Broncos, Rams
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Do you expect to see many (if not most teams) use a lot more 12 personnel than we are used to seeing this season?
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If a team is looking for a classic "move" tight end with a similar play-style to Travis Kelce, the guy they probably want is Utah's Dalton Kincaid, who is considered the best pure receiving tight end in this class. What makes him such a dangerous weapon in the passing game?
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What do you see in Luke Musgrave's tape that suggests he can be an even better pro than Dalton Kincaid?
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Despite his Combine numbers, do you see Michael Mayer as worthy of a top-40 pick...if not earlier?
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Just how high of a ceiling do you think Darnell Washington has in the passing game? Would converting Darnell Washington to offensive tackle be a good idea in the event he does not reach his potential in the passing game?
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Buy or Sell: Luke Schoonmaker, Tucker Kraft, Brenton Strange, Davis Allen, Sam LaPorta, Payne Durham
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Is there a sleeper TE prospect in this class that you don't believe is getting the attention he deserves? If so, who is that prospect and why do you love him so much?
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If you were a team in desperate need of offensive weaponry...would you be willing to spend a first-round pick on a tight end this year...or would you be content to wait until Day 2 even if the top-four are gone by then?
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Team Fits
-Dalton Kincaid: Chiefs, Packers, Cowboys
-Luke Musgrave: Raiders
-Michael Mayer: Cowboys, Chiefs, Jaguars
-Darnell Washington: Bengals, Falcons, Jaguars, Texans, Titans
-Luke Schoonmaker: Any team in need of a TE2/TE3
-Tucker Kraft: Cowboys, Chiefs, Jaguars
-Sam LaPorta: Cowboys, Chiefs, Jaguars
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When it comes to the wide receivers in the 2023 NFL Draft, it is a very underwhelming group. Not only is there no Ja'Marr Chase-level prospect among them, there isn't even a prospect you can safely say is on the level that Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave were headed into last year's draft. However, if you take a deeper look into this class, one can argue that if you need a receiver who can fill a "niche role" in an offense such as taking the top off of a defense or a reliable "move the chains" target, this draft has some solid options. Wouldn't you say so?
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As of right now, the top WR (and the ninth overall player) on your board is Quentin Johnston of TCU. While there's quite a bit to like about Johnston, two major red flags stick out to me. First, his propensity for drops and second, the hit rate of Big-12 WR's drafted in the first round is not good, as Daniel Jeremiah noted. Why do you think Johnston has a very good chance to buck this trend?
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Do you think there are plenty of good reasons to think that a healthy Jaxon Smith-Njigba has the highest floor out of any WR in this draft?
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Why do you have a better grade on Cedric Tillman than on his far more ballyhooed Tennessee teammate Jalin Hyatt?
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You mentioned that you have a sleeper WR prospect on your mind that isn't getting the attention he deserves. Who is that prospect and why do you love him so much?
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Buy or Sell: Jordan Addison, Zay Flowers, Tyler Scott, Josh Downs, Marvin Mims, A.T. Perry, Tank Dell, Jonathan Mingo, Rashee Rice, Trey Palmer, Kayshon Boutte, Michael Wilson, Andre Iosivas, Jayden Reed, Puka Nucua
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Did C.J. Stroud's Herculean performance against Georgia convince you that there is FAR more untapped potential with him?
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Given what you see from him on tape, do you think Bryce Young has a very good chance to be successful for an even longer period of time than Russell Wilson?
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The most common player comp I've heard for Bryce Young is somebody outside the football world...basketball star Steph Curry, who I think we can now say is the best pure shooter in NBA history. Are you a fan of that comp?
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As of right now, who do you have ranked higher on your board and why: Young or Stroud?
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Do you believe that Anthony Richardson has a very good shot to become the latest rare exception to the rule that says QB's with completion percentages substantially below 60 in college don't succeed in the NFL?
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Do you think there's a good chance that whoever draft Will Levis will get the version of him that we saw in 2021? How fixable are his turnover issues?
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If say the Seahawks, Raiders, and/or Falcons miss out on one of the top four QB's in the first round, would Hendon Hooker be a worthy investment for them in the second round?
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Best Possible Team Fits
-C.J. Stroud: Panthers
-Bryce Young: Texans
-Anthony Richardson: Colts
-Will Levis: Jets, Ravens, Lions, Seahawks
-Hendon Hooker: Broncos, Saints
-Tanner McKee: Titans
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Do you share the sentiment of Mel Kiper, et al that this is not a good draft class?
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Based on the perceived aforementioned drop-off from Jalen Carter and Will Anderson to the rest of the class, do you think the Bears should only trade back to as far as #4 overall with the Colts? Do you think the best case scenario for the Bears is to initially trade back one spot with the Texans and then trade back again with Indy?
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When looking at the 2023 draft class in general, which position groups would you say are the strongest and which would you say are the weakest?
-
Aside from the athletic traits and positional value, what makes Anthony Richardson worth an investment in the top half of Round 1?
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Combine Predictions (Stock Up or Stock Down)
-Devon Achane
-Tyler Scott
-Blake Freeland
-Zach Harrison
-Adetomiwa Adebawore
-DeMarion Overshown
- First-round mock draft with trades
- Super Bowl LVII Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: Chiefs are a dynasty in the making because a future HOF coach is paired with a future HOF QB, Hal: Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy deserves all the credit for "Corn Dog"...and a head coaching job soon)
-GOAT of the Game (DKrom: Jalen Hurts, Hal: Brett Veach)
-DUNCE of the Game (DKrom: Carl Cheffers, Hal: Eagles DL)
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If Patrick Mahomes wins 2-3 more Super Bowls, do you think he'd have a powerful case to be considered as THE GOAT over Brady?
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Coaching Carousel
-Grading the Texans hire of DeMeco Ryans as head coach (DKrom: A+, Hal: A+)
-Grading the Broncos hire of Sean Payton as head coach (DKrom: B-, Hal: C-)
-Grading the Colts hire of Shane Steichen as head coach (DKrom: A, Hal: B-)
-Grading the Cardinals hire of Jonathan Gannon as head coach (DKrom: B, Hal: B+)
-Is Justin Herbert in for the best season of his career in 2023 with Kellen Moore as his OC?
-Based on that stellar coaching staff Frank Reich has assembled in Carolina to go along with the young talent already there, are the Panthers a good early bet to win the NFC South in 2023?
-Who is the best possible replacement for Jonathan Gannon as Eagles DC: Sean Desai, or Vance Joseph?
-Who was the best coordinator hire so far this cycle: (DKrom: Steve Wilks as 49ers DC, Hal: Bill O'Brien as Patriots OC)
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Is it more prudent for the Ravens to slap the $45 million exclusive rights franchise tag on Lamar Jackson, or to give him the $32 million non-exclusive rights franchise tag, let another team make an offer, and then decide whether or not to match it?
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Tag or No Tag
-Geno Smith (Tag)
-Daniel Jones (No Tag)
-Tony Pollard (Tag)
-Josh Jacobs (Tag)
-Orlando Brown, Jr. (Tag)
-Da'Ron Payne (Tag)
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Cal McNair...restrain yourself from meddling in football decisions. You may have the best HC/GM pair in Texans franchise history right now!!!
-Hal: Bears GM Ryan Poles...don't trade Justin Fields
NFL draft analyst/insider Tony Pauline of the Pro Football Network joined me at the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl to discuss who made some money during the week of practices down in Mobile, why the Bears being able to trade the #1 overall back is no sure thing, his thoughts on the Broncos hire of Sean Payton, and an interesting nugget on the Cardinals head coaching search
Panthers beat reporter Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer joined me to discuss the rationale for the Panthers hiring Frank Reich over Steve Wilks for their head coaching job, some potential offensive coordinator candidates for Reich's staff, how far of a move up the board he sees the Panthers making in the first round, and the likelihood of a Brian Burns contract extension before the 2023 season
Bo Brack, who covers the Cardinals for PHNX Sports, joined me at the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl to discuss where the Cardinals head coaching search currently stands and where it's likely headed, his thoughts on the hiring of Monti Ossenfort as Cardinals GM, why trading DeAndre Hopkins makes sense, and a hypothetical scenario with the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft
Packers beat reporter Gery Woelfel joined me at the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl to discuss just how likely an Aaron Rodgers trade is, how he expects the Packers to further address their salary cap situation going forward and needs that need to be addressed this offseason
Bills beat reporter Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News joined me at the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl to discuss the team's offseason needs, whether or not he expects the Bills to use the franchise tag on LB Tremaine Edmunds, what a realistic recovery timetable for Von Miller looks like...and a lot more!!!
Nick Farabaugh, who covers the Steelers for Pittsburgh Sports Now, joined me at the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl to discuss OL options for the Steelers in the draft, his thoughts on the Steelers keeping OC Matt Canada, and what in-house free agents the Steelers plan to re-sign
Mike Keith, the radio play-by-play voice of the Titans, joined me at the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl to share his thoughts on the hire of Ran Carthon as GM, the looming decision on Ryan Tannehill and why he believes the Titans should keep him, the latest on the search for a new offensive coordinator, the Titans' most urgent needs to address this spring, the future of Pro Bowl LT Taylor Lewan, and why the Texans hiring DeMeco Ryans as head coach is bad news for the Titans and the rest of the AFC South
Eagles beat reporter Devin Jackson of the Philadelphia Inquirer joined me at the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl and shared his thoughts on what THE key is for the Eagles to win Super Bowl LVII, which players on the offensive and defensive line he believes will NOT return to the team next season, what a Jalen Hurts contract extension will look like, and what he thinks the Eagles will do with their two first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft
Chris Tomasson, who covers the Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, joined me at the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl to discuss the latest buzz on the team's search for a new defensive coordinator, what he expects a contract extension for Justin Jefferson to look like, his prediction for how the Vikings will address the contract situation of Kirk Cousins before the 2023 season, and just how much help the Vikings need on defense
Matt Verderame, the national NFL reporter at FanSided, joined me at the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl to discuss why it's not a good idea for the Broncos to trade for Sean Payton (the trade was reported literally minutes AFTER this interview!), why the Bears should not trade down past the #4 overall pick, and what will likely be the deciding factor in Super Bowl LVII
Chicago Bears beat reporter Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic joined me at the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl to discuss what a potential trade back from the #1 overall pick would likely look like, the Bears free agency plans with $98 million in salary cap space, whether he thinks the team will try to trade for a certain star WR if made available, and potential cuts the team could use to create even more cap room
Washington Commanders beat reporter Ben Standig of The Athletic joined me at the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl to discuss the latest on the team's search for a new offensive coordinator, who their likely starting QB will be come Week 1 of the 2023 season, and the latest buzz on a potential sale of the franchise
Cowboys beat reporter Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News joined me at the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl to discuss why the Cowboys parted ways with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, why WR is a bigger need for the team than offensive line, the futures of RB's Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott...and more!!!
- Divisional Round Weekend Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: Bills need to invest in OL/running game improvements to keep window open, Hal: Jerry Jones made a big mistake by trading Amari Cooper for peanuts)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Andy Reid, Hal: Joe Burrow)
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: Sean McDermott, Hal: Doug Pederson)
- Coaching Carousel
-The first of five NFL head coaching vacancies was just filled today as the Carolina Panthers went with former Colts HC (and the first QB in Carolina Panther history) Frank Reich to be their new head coach. What grade would you give this hire? (DKrom: A-, Hal: A)
-If you're DeMeco Ryans, do you take the Broncos or Texans HC job?
-How good of a hire would Zac Robinson be for Justin Herbert and the Chargers?
-Aside from not being Jeff Saturday, why would Raheem Morris be the right guy to lead the Colts going forward?
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Do you think Nathaniel Hackett takes the Jets OC job if the Jets aren't confident about landing Aaron Rodgers? Hackett aside, how good of a fit are the Jets for Aaron Rodgers?
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On a scale of 1-10 (1 being very good, 10 being very bad), what are your thoughts on making both the NFC and AFC Championship permanent neutral-site affairs?
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2023 Top-10 Mock Draft
-#1 (Colts, from Bears): Bryce Young
-#2 (Texans): C.J. Stroud
-#3 (Cardinals): Jalen Carter
-#4 (Bears, from Colts): Will Anderson
-#5 (Panthers, from Seahawks): Will Levis
-#6 (Lions): Devon Witherspoon
-#7 (Raiders): Paris Johnson, Jr.
-#8 (Falcons): Peter Skoronski
-#9 (Seahawks, Panthers): Myles Murphy
-#10 (Eagles): Tyree Wilson
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NFC Championship Preview (49ers at Eagles)
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AFC Championship Preview (Bengals at Chiefs)
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BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: 49ers defense sacks Jalen Hurts five times, holds him to under 75 rushing yards, and Fred Warner registers an 85-yard pick-six in the final minute of the game to give the 49ers a 27-17 win
-Hal: 49ers leading 22-17 late, nut Jalen Hurts finds A.J. Brown for his third TD of game to give the Eagles the 24-22 win
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Brock Purdy...play mistake free football
-Hal: Broncos, Cardinals, Colts and Texans...BE BOLD when hiring your new HC...and consider Eric Bieniemy!!!
- Super Wild Card Weekend Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: Brian Daboll has clinched COY honors, Hal: Division rivals meeting for the third time in one season is fun)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Logan Wilson, Hal: Brock Purdy)
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: Brandon Staley/Joe Lombardi, Hal: Mike McDaniel)
- Coaching Carousel
-How ideal would it be for the Chargers if they hire Frank Reich as their new OC?
-Do you get the feeling that if Sean Payton does decide to return to coaching in 2023, it will be with the Panthers?
-Of the four known candidates for Patriots OC, who is most likely to get the job: Nick Caley, Keenan McCardell, Shawn Jefferson or Bill O'Brien?
-If the Broncos HC job comes down to Dan Quinn or David Shaw, who would you choose and why?
- Grading the GM offers
-Cardinals (Monti Ossenfort): DKrom [B], Hal [B-]
-Titans (Ran Carthon): DKrom [A+], Hal [A]
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How ideal of a fit are the Atlanta Falcons and Arthur Smith's offense for Lamar Jackson?
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Truth or Exaggeration
-Not only will Tom Brady play in 2023, he will play all the way until the age of 50
-The Detroit Lions will win the NFC North in 2023
-If Jim Irsay gets his way and promotes Jeff Saturday to full-time HC, the Colts star players (i.e.: Quenton Nelson, Shaquille Leonard) will demand to be traded
-Josh Harris will become the new majority owner of the Commanders
-The Steelers made a big mistake by retaining OC Matt Canada
-Ryan Tannehill will NOT be the Titans starting QB in 2023
-The Cowboys/49ers Divisional Round playoff game will be the de facto NFC Championship
- Bengals at Bills Preview
-Which Bills front-four defender is the most capable of exploiting the injury-depleted Bengals OL? Because blitzing Joe Burrow ain't going to work
-Do you anticipate the Bills using some similar run concepts the Ravens used to perfection against the Bengals last week?
-Game-deciding matchups: Tyler Boyd vs. Taron Johnson, Joe Burrow vs. Matt Milano, Logan Wilson vs. Josh Allen, Trey Hendrickson vs. Spencer Brown
-Picks
- Cowboys at 49ers Preview
-Outside of Dak Prescott at the all-important QB position, is there any other component of the Cowboys roster that gives them a leg up on the 49ers??
-What is the main thing the Cowboys must do differently compared to last year's Wild Card playoff game against the 49ers in order to get their revenge?
-Game-deciding matchups: Micah Parsons vs. any 49ers OL aside from Trent Williams, Nick Bosa vs. Tyler Smith or Jason Peters, Tony Pollard vs. Fred Warner, 49ers outside zone run game vs. Tre'Von Diggs
-Picks
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Picks for Jaguars/Chiefs and Giants/Eagles
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BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: NEITHER team in the Bills/Bengals game will punt once
-Hal: Brett Maher will make all three PAT's...and kicks a 58-yard game-winning FG at the gun
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Cowboys...BE THE BULLY!!!
-Hal: Trevor Lawrence and Jaguars...you have nothing to lose...and go shock the world again!!!
- Week 17 & 18 Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: 49ers now looking like NFC co-favorites at LEAST, Hal: The next generation of star NFL QB's are all in the AFC, thus prepare for AFC dominance)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Danny Kellington, Hal: Danny Kellington)
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: Quay Walker, Hal: Cameron Achord)
- 2023 NFL Draft
-Do you think Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud both showed in their Bowl games and this season that they have the talent that warrants a top-five pick?
-What is the wisest possible move for the Bears to make with the first overall pick: Stand pat and take best non-QB or trade back a few spots with the Colts at 4 and accumulate more picks?
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Did we just see Aaron Rodgers play his final snap as a Packer, if not his final snap as an NFL QB altogether?
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Coaching Carousel
-Would you consider the Panthers as the most attractive head coaching job, even if Sean McVay leaves the Rams?
-If the Cowboys go one-and-done in the playoffs again, would you be surprised if Jerry Jones fires Mike McCarthy?
-Of the three hottest first-time candidates, which one do you see being the most successful: DeMeco Ryans, Shane Steichen or Ben Johnson?
-If you were a head coaching candidate this cycle and the Texans offered you the job, how hesitant would you be to take the job given the fact that the Texans just fired two head coaches in the past two years alone?
- Chargers at Jaguars Preview
-Headed into this game, what alarms you the most: The Chargers run defense, Trevor Lawrence's struggles the past two weeks, or the Jaguars inability to cover tight ends?
-Did Brandon Staley commit a fireable offense by playing the starters longer than he should have last week?
-Game-deciding matchups: Jamaree Salyer/Trey Pipkins vs. Josh Allen/Travon Walker, Walker Little/Jawaan Taylor vs. Joey Bosa/Khalil Mack, Jaguars iOL (Brandon Scherff, et al) vs. Chargers DL (Sebastian Joseph-Day, et al)
-Picks
- Super Wild Card Weekend Game Picks
-Seahawks at 49ers
-Dolphins at Bills
-Giants at Vikings
-Ravens at Bengals
-Cowboys at Bucs
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: Bucs put up 550 yards of total offense, including three 40+-yard TD passes from Tom Brady to Mike Evans
-Hal: Kenny Golladay makes game-winning TD reception with under 1:00 to play in 27-24 win over Vikings
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: All teams with a head coaching vacancy...INTERVIEW STEVE WILKS!!!!!
-Hal: Tom Brady...make DKrom's bold prediction come true and don't go one-and-done!!
- Week 16 Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: No clear cut Super Bowl favorite in either conference, Hal: SO much bad QB play around the NFL, more great ones are needed)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Dak Prescott, Hal: Chiefs defense)
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: Russell Wilson, Hal: Titans/Colts/Broncos)
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Do you get the feeling that the Walton/Penner ownership group will give the new Broncos head coach even more power than GM George Paton, essentially making the latter expendable as early as after the draft?
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Should the Jets offer the Ravens three first-round picks and one of their start young players (say Quinnen Williams) for Lamar Jackson?
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With the injury to Lane Johnson, how much danger are the Eagles chances of getting the NFC's #1 seed in?
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Truth or Exaggeration
-Making the playoffs will NOT be enough to save Brandon Staley's job because Sean Payton wants to return to coaching in 2023
-Jim Harbaugh will remain at Michigan for the 2023 season
-The Jets will make the playoffs
-The Packers will make the playoffs
-With the AFC South crown not to be decided until Week 18, both the Jaguars and Titans should rest their starters this week
-The 2022 NFL MVP will be the QB of the team that clinches the AFC's #1 playoff seed
-Even though it will very possibly (if not likely) cost them a playoff spot, the Dolphins MUST put Tua Tagovailoa on ice for the remainder of the season
-The Bengals are the most balanced team of the AFC's top Super Bowl contenders
- Bills at Bengals Preview
-What is more crucial for the Bills to win this all-important game: The pass rush or the running game?
-What is the biggest adjustment the Bengals need to make on offense in order to compensate for the season-ending knee injury to La'El Collins?
-Key matchups: Ja'Marr Chase vs. Tre'Davious White, Tyler Boyd vs. Taron Johnson, D.J. Reader/B.J. Hill vs. Bills interior OL, Logan Wilson vs. Josh Allen
-Picks
- Week 17 Game Picks
-Cowboys at Titans
-Jaguars at Texans
-Colts at Giants
-Saints at Eagles
-Panthers at Bucs
-Cardinals at Falcons
-Bears at Lions
-Dolphins at Patriots
-Browns at Commanders
-Broncos at Chiefs
-49ers at Raiders
-Jets at Seahawks
-Vikings at Packers
-Rams at Chargers
-Steelers at Ravens
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: Eagles win 24-21...and it's a game with only field goals as the Eagles kick eight and the Saints kick seven
-Hal: Geno Smith throws 5 TD's against the Jets defense, including a bomb to Laquon Treadwell to win the game
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Panthers...DETHRONE THE BUCS...and give Steve Wilks the FULL-TIME HC job!!!!
-Hal: All teams on fringe of the playoffs...stay in the race and set up a chaotic Week 18!!!
- Week 15 Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: The AFC has 3 legit Super Bowl contenders, Hal: Bengals are the hottest team in the NFL and prove there's no Super Bowl hangover in Cincy)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Kirk Cousins, Hal: Trevor Lawrence)
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: Mike McDaniel, Hal: Jeff Saturday)
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Can the Eagles afford to rest Jalen Hurts for these next 2-3 games?
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Would it be a big mistake for the Texans to fire Lovie Smith and move to a third head coach in three seasons?
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Why are the Patriots committing SO many situational errors this season that are uncharacteristic of a Bill Belichick-coached team? What changes (coaching, FO, et al) need to be made after the season?
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Truth or Exaggeration
-With Steve Keim taking an indefinite, health-related leave of absence, the Cardinals should use this window of opportunity to move on from both him and Kliff Kingsbury
-Should they be picking at 2 or 3 overall in the draft, it is a better idea for the Bears to stay put and take either Jalen Carter or Will Anderson (if one or both are available) than to trade down for more picks
-Justin Jefferson is the best WR in the NFL right now...and the front-runner for 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors
-The Cowboys are going to flame out early in the playoffs again...and Mike McCarthy will be fired as a result
-If Aaron Rodgers decides to play at least one more year in Green Bay, the Packers should trade their first two draft picks for a disgruntled star WR
-Kayvon Thibodeaux will end up being the best pass rusher from the 2022 draft class
-Given their play the last three weeks, the Chiefs are no longer a shoo-in for the AFC's #1 playoff seed
-The AFC South won't be decided until Week 18 when the Jaguars host the Titans
- Week 16 Game Picks
-Jaguars at Jets
-Bills at Bears
-Giants at Vikings
-Lions at Panthers
-Saints at Browns
-Falcons at Ravens
-Bengals at Patriots
-Texans at Titans
-Seahawks at Chiefs
-Commanders at 49ers
-Eagles at Cowboys
-Raiders at Steelers
-Packers at Dolphins
-Broncos at Rams
-Bucs at Cardinals
-Chargers at Colts
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: Commanders defense sacks Brock Purdy six times, intercepts him three times, and forces him to fumble deep in his own territory twice...leading to two scoop-and-scores that are the difference in the game
-Hal: Phillip Dorsett throws TD and catches subsequent two-point conversion for Texans...and Christian Kirkey forces a Derrick Henry fumble inside final two minutes to set up game-winning FG
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: NFL officials...THROW A FLAG when there's blatant pass interference REGARDLESS of what moment of the game it occurs
-Hal: All 32 NFL owners and Roger Goodell, spend more money on technology to improve instant replay system and hire a single official to handle replays for every game
- Week 14 Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: The sky is the limit for Trevor Lawrence, Hal: Contenders starting to separate from pretenders)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Baker Mayfield, Hal: Nelson Agholor)
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: Raiders DC Patrick Graham, Hal: NFL concussion spotter in NE/AZ)
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If Tom Brady decides to play again next season, which team do you think makes the most sense for him?
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Should the Lions be willing to ride with Jared Goff for the foreseeable future...or should they select a QB with one of their two first-round picks?
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Truth or Exaggeration
-Sean McVay will step down as head coach of the Rams and take a broadcasting gig either after this season or next season
-The Panthers are equally as likely as the Bucs to win the NFC South
-A.J. Brown is a serious candidate for Offensive Player of the Year honors
-The Vikings will be one-and-done in the playoffs
-Brock Purdy will end up ahead of Trey Lance on the 49ers QB depth chart next season, regardless of who the starter is
-The Texans will select either Alabama EDGE Will Anderson or Georgia DT Jalen Carter with the #1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft
-Bengals DC Lou Anarumo will be a head coach in 2023
-The Dolphins are in danger of missing out on the playoffs
- Dolphins at Bills Preview
-Have defenses cracked the code on the Dolphins offense? What does Mike McDaniel need to do in order to counter the press coverage they're seeing more often?
-With up to seven inches of snow possible Saturday night, do the Bills need to be prepared to run the ball more than they ever have the past two years or so (meaning with RB's and not Josh Allen)?
-Game-deciding matchups: Stefon Diggs vs. Xavien Howard, Tyreek Hill/Jaylen Waddle vs. Tre'Davious White, et al, Roger Saffold vs. Christian Wilkins
-Picks
- Week 15 Game Picks
-49ers at Seahawks
-Colts at Vikings
-Ravens at Browns
-Steelers at Panthers
-Falcons at Saints
-Eagles at Bears
-Cowboys at Jaguars
-Chiefs at Texans
-Lions at Jets
-Cardinals at Broncos
-Patriots at Raiders
-Titans at Chargers
-Bengals at Bucs
-Giants at Commanders
-Rams at Packers
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: Trevor Lawrence leads Jaguars on 99-yard drive in final two minutes culminating in a TD pass to Christian Kirk, giving the Jags a 35-34 upset win over the Cowboys
-Hal: Penei Sewell catches 1 TD pass...and runs for another
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Chiefs and Cowboys...DO NOT play down to competition
-Hal: Chargers, Jets, Ravens, Patriots, Dolphins...STEP UP TO THE CHALLENGE!!!!
- Week 13 Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: Todd Bowles has to develop an inner Bruce Arians, Hal: The Eagles may not have a glaring weakness)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: A.J. Brown/Malik Hooker, Hal: Geno Smith)
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: Saints GM Mickey Loomis, Hal: Brian Daboll/Ron Rivera)
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On Tuesday, there was some rather surprising news out of Tennessee. After more than seven seasons, the Titans fired GM Jon Robinson. Although we don't quite know the full details yet, it was reported further by Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network that head coach Mike Vrabel is expected to have significant power going forward, regardless of who the new full-time GM is. Thus, this was likely due to a power struggle between Vrabel and Robinson, and Vrabel apparently prevailed because he was not on board with trading A.J. Brown. As much benefit of the doubt as Mike Vrabel has earned as a coach, do you think it is a mistake by the Titans to give him more say in roster decisions?
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Do you think it was a mistake for the 49ers not to submit a claim for Baker Mayfield, even though they would have lost the bid?
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Do you feel that the Rams know that there is a real possibility Matthew Stafford will retire after this season due to his bruised spinal cord?
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Truth or Exaggeration
-With Von Miller out for the season, the Bills will finish as the 3rd playoff seed in the AFC...or worse
-The Bengals are an even more dangerous team now than they were late last year
-If Lamar Jackson misses these next three games, the Ravens will not make the playoffs
-The Eagles and Cowboys will meet again in the playoffs, perhaps in the NFC Championship
-The Cowboys don't even need Odell Beckham, Jr. to reach the NFC Championship or Super Bowl LVII
-Matt Patricia will NOT be the Patriots offensive coordinator in 2023
-Justin Fields played the best game of his career as a passer in Week 13
-The Raiders will win out and secure the AFC's final wild card spot
- Week 14 Game Picks
-Raiders at Rams
-Vikings at Lions
-Jets at Bills
-Browns at Bengals
-Ravens at Steelers
-Jaguars at Titans
-Texans at Cowboys
-Eagles at Giants
-Chiefs at Broncos
-Panthers at Seahawks
-Bucs at 49ers
-Dolphins at Chargers
-Patriots at Cardinals
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: Chiefs get 56 points thanks to 5 Mahomes TD passes in the first half alone, a pick-six, and two special teams TD's (punt return for TD and blocked FG return for TD)
-Hal: Jared Goff throws 6 TD's, 75% completion rate, 450 passing yards in win over Vikings
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Brock Purdy...just do what you did last Sunday
-Hal: Sean McDermott and Bills...PROVE ME WRONG!!!
- Week 12 Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: Doug Pederson/Brandon Staley showed what "playing to win" means, Hal: Historic Thanksgiving TV audience proves why NFL is king)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Trevor Lawrence, Hal: Justin Jefferson)
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: Jeff Saturday, Hal: Lions DC Aaron Glenn)
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Last week, Justin Fields revealed that his left shoulder injury is a separation with partially torn ligaments. If he is unable to get it back to 100% these final six weeks, should the Bears put him on ice for the rest of the season?
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Should the Packers wait until they're officially eliminated to start Jordan Love...or should they make that move with three weeks left in the season or so?
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Truth or Exaggeration
-If the Jets make the playoffs, Mike White is their starting QB in 2023, and perhaps beyond
-Steve Wilks will become the full-time head coach of the Panthers
-Lamar Jackson is playing his way out of a long-term contract extension
-If next season is a repeat of this season, 2023 will be the final season of Russell Wilson’s career
-The Cowboys Super Bowl odds should be greater than they currently are (currently at +900)
-With a win over the Chiefs this weekend, the Bengals should become the slight favorites to win the AFC North
-With the uncertainty surrounding Von Miller’s knee, the Dolphins should be considered the favorites to win the AFC East
- Dolphins at 49ers Preview
-This is a matchup of two coaches that obviously know each other quite well, given that Mike McDaniel coached under Kyle Shanahan for five teams across 12 seasons (Texans, Washington, Browns, Falcons, 49ers). Which coach do you think has a (likely slight) tactical advantage on Sunday?
-If the Dolphins have a fatal flaw that you think can be exposed by the 49ers, what is it?
-Key matchups: Bradley Chubb vs. Mike McGlinchey, Nick Bosa vs. Brandon Shell, Tyreek Hill/Jaylen Waddle vs. Talanoa Hufanga/Tashaun Gibson, Sr.
-Picks
- Chiefs at Bengals Preview
-How has the Bengals OL made such dramatic progress?
-What other concepts do you see Andy Reid using to force the Bengals out of that "rush three, drop eight" look?
-Key matchups: Chris Jones vs. Alex Cappa/Ted Karras/Cordell Volson, Tyler Boyd vs. Trent McDuffie or L'Jarius Sneed, D.J. Reader vs. Creed Humphrey/Trey Smith/Joe Thuney, Sam Hubbard/Trey Hendrickson vs. Orlando Brown, Jr./Andrew Wylie
-Picks
- Week 13 Game Picks
-Bills at Patriots
-Jets at Vikings
-Packers at Bears
-Jaguars at Lions
-Titans at Eagles
-Commanders at Giants
-Browns at Texans
-Steelers at Falcons
-Broncos at Ravens
-Seahawks at Rams
-Chargers at Raiders
-Colts at Cowboys
-Saints at Bucs
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: THREE games decided by a last-second two point conversion (Commanders over Giants, Titans over Eagles, Steelers over Falcons)
-Hal: Mike White tops 400 passing yards with 5 TD (three to Garrett Wilson)
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Vikings...take the step from good to great by DOMINATING your opponents the rest of the way!!
-Hal: NFC South coaches...WIN 8 or 9 GAMES!!!!!
- Week 11 Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: Patrick Mahomes has opened up a HUGE lead in the MVP race, Hal: Commanders and Patriots are teams nobody wants to play)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Travis Kelce, Hal: Jimmy Garoppolo)
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: Zach Wilson, Hal: Nathaniel Hackett)
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At his press conference yesterday, Jets head coach Robert Saleh refused to rule out making a change at QB. Based on Zach Wilson's performance and the emerging rift in the Jets locker room, would it be absolute insanity if the Jets do NOT bench Zach Wilson this week?
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If the 49ers win three of their next four games (which include dates with the Bucs and Dolphins at home and the Seahawks on the road), do you think they become THE team to beat in the NFC?
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Currently, what do you think the odds are (percentage-wise) of the Bengals making the playoffs?
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Truth or Exaggeration
-With their playoff dreams (at best) on life support and Matthew Stafford suffering a second concussion in three weeks, the Rams should put their franchise QB on ice for the remainder of the season
-The Washington Commanders will overtake the New York Giants for one of the two NFC Wild Card playoff spots
-Tony Pollard is the best offensive weapon the Cowboys have other than Dak Prescott
-Despite being 8-2, the Vikings currently have a -2 point differential. Thus, they will NOT make it to the NFC Championship game
-For the first time in five years, the Lions are on a three-game winning streak. Should the Lions win 3-4 more games, Lions fans should feel very confident in Dan Campbell as the long-term answer at head coach
-The Chiefs will be the AFC's #1 playoff seed
-Dan Quinn will be the head coach of the Broncos in 2023
- Week 12 Game Picks
-Bills at Lions
-Giants at Cowboys
-Patriots at Vikings
-Bears at Jets
-Texans at Dolphins
-Ravens at Jaguars
-Bengals at Titans
-Bucs at Browns
-Broncos at Panthers
-Falcons at Commanders
-Chargers at Cardinals
-Raiders at Seahawks
-Rams at Chiefs
-Saints at 49ers
-Packers at Eagles
-Steelers at Colts
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: Matt Judon totals 4 sacks, a forced fumble...and a game-clinching pick-six to give the Patriots the upset win
-Hal: Tua throws 7 TD passes against the Texans...Dolphins defense totals 4 INT
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Bills...STAY MORE BALANCED on offense!!!
-Hal: Robert Saleh...get your players back on the same page (and that starts with benching Zach Wilson)
- Week 10 Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: Josh Allen is in a red zone funk, Hal: Colts assistant coaches deserve more credit than Jeff Saturday for their win over the Raiders)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Justin Jefferson, Hal: Colt McCoy)
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: Josh McDaniels, Hal: Sean McDermott)
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If the regular season ended today, all four AFC East teams would be in the playoffs. Which of those teams is most likely to win the division? Which of those teams is most likely to miss the playoffs?
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Denver-based NFL insider Benjamin Allbright tweeted over the weekend that there could very well be three new head coaches in the AFC West next season. Would you be surprised if that happens?
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Truth or Exaggeration
-Taylor Heinicke MUST be the Commanders starting QB for the remainder of the season
-If they have a top-three pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Raiders must select either Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud
-With Cooper Kupp now sidelined for at least the next four games, you can stick a fork in the playoff hopes of the defending Super Bowl champion Rams
-The 49ers are the favorites to win the NFC West
-Should the Colts win 3-4 more games, Jeff Saturday will be promoted to full-time head coach
-The absence of Dallas Goedert will have as detrimental of an effect on the Eagles passing attack as the absence of Jordan Davis has had on their run defense
-Kirk Cousins has earned his place as one of the NFL's top-10 QB's
- Cowboys at Vikings Preview
-What chinks in the Cowboys' armor were exposed in last Sunday's loss against the Packers?
-Did the Vikings win over the Bills vault them into your top tier of Super Bowl contenders? Or do they still have more to prove?
-Game-deciding matchups: Micah Parsons/Tank Lawrence, et al vs. Christian Darrisaw/Brian O'Neill, Za'Darius Smith/Danielle Hunter vs. Tyler Smith/Terence Steele, Justin Jefferson vs. Tre'von Diggs, CeeDee Lamb vs. Patrick Peterson
-Picks
- Week 11 Game Picks
-Titans at Packers
-Bears at Falcons
-Lions at Giants
-Eagles at Colts
-Commanders at Texans
-Panthers at Ravens
-Browns at Bills
-Jets at Patriots
-Rams at Saints
-Raiders at Broncos
-Bengals at Steelers
-Chiefs at Chargers
-49ers at Cardinals
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: Jonathan Taylor rushes for 220+ yards and catches 8 passes for 120 yards and 4 total TD (3 rush, 1 receiving)
-Hal: Justin Fields 300 passing yards 150 TD, five TD (2 pass, 2 run, 1 receiving)
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Chargers...if you want to BE the man...you have to BEAT the man, so just DO IT!!
-Hal: AFC East and NFC East coaches...keep winning and take all those playoff spots!!!
- Week 9 Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: RAIDER-ing is becoming a thing, Hal: We saw the future of the NFL in Tua and Justin Fields)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Tom Brady, Hal: Joe Mixon)
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: Ta'Quon Graham, Hal: Aaron Rodgers)
- MIDSEASON AWARDS
-MVP (DKrom: Patrick Mahomes, Hal: Tua Tagovailoa)
-Offensive Player of the Year (DKrom: Tyreek Hill , Hal: Tyreek Hill)
-Defensive Player of the Year (DKrom: Micah Parsons, Hal: Matt Judon)
-Offensive Rookie of the Year (DKrom: Dameon Pierce, Hal: Chris Olave)
-Defensive Rookie of the Year (DKrom: Sauce Gardner, Hal: Tariq Woolen)
-Comeback Player of the Year (DKrom: Geno Smith, Hal: Geno Smith/Saquon Barkley)
-Coach of the Year (DKrom: Brian Daboll, Hal: Nick Sirianni)
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Is it safe to say that Jim Irsay has gone crazy and is turning the Colts into a three-ring circus?
-
Should the Bills highly consider resting Josh Allen for these next two weeks, if not longer?
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Truth or Exaggeration
-Justin Fields will be the Bears starting QB in 2023 and beyond
-The Tennessee Titans will be the team nobody wants to face in the playoffs
-As evidenced by his performance against the Lions, there is a legit possibility Aaron Rodgers is declining faster than most think
-The Eagles will be NFC Champions AND get a top-five pick in the 2023 NFL Draft courtesy of the Saints
-The Saints should go back to Jameis Winston at QB for the remainder of the season
-Barring a late-season turnaround, Kliff Kingsbury will be fired as head coach of the Cardinals
-With another loss this weekend to the Cowboys, you can kiss the Packers playoff hopes goodbye
- Week 10 Game Picks
-Falcons at Panthers
-Seahawks at Bucs
-Vikings at Bills
-Lions at Bears
-Saints at Steelers
-Browns at Dolphins
-Broncos at Titans
-Texans at Giants
-Jaguars at Chiefs
-Colts at Raiders
-Cowboys at Packers
-Cardinals at Rams
-Chargers at 49ers
-Commanders at Eagles
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: Geno Smith bolsters MVP case by throwing for over 300 yards and 4 TD, including one a game-winning drive in the final 90 seconds to answer a go-ahead TD by Tom Brady
-Hal: Taylor Heinicke throws 3 TD's, including a drive to set up game-winning FG after Jalen Hurts game-tying drive
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Colts...in order to avoid being stuck in a perpetual state of mediocrity (or worse)...FIRE CHRIS BALLARD
-Hal: Chargers...prove me wrong again!!!!
- Week 8 Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: It MUST be Tony Pollard time in Dallas, Hal: QB's MATTER)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey, Hal: Geno Smith)
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: D.J. Moore, Hal: Zack Wilson and Jets management/coaching)
- GRADING THE TRADES
-Bears trade Roquan Smith to Ravens (Bears grade: A-, Ravens grade: A-)
-Lions trade T.J. Hockenson to Vikings (Lions grade: C-, Vikings grade: B+)
-Steelers trade Chase Claypool to Bears (Steelers grade: A-, Bears grade: D)
-Broncos trade Bradley Chubb to Dolphins (Broncos grade: A, Dolphins grade: B)
-Falcons trade Calvin Ridley to Jaguars (Falcons grade: B+, Jaguars grade: A)
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Do you interpret today's events as the beginning of the end of Daniel Snyder's days as an NFL owner?
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Truth or Exaggeration
-It's time to bring back the "Save Trevor Lawrence" campaign to get Trevor Lawrence out of Jacksonville
-The Baltimore Ravens should be the universal favorites to win the AFC North
-As the deals he made to acquire A.J. Brown and C.J Gardner-Johnson show, Howie Roseman is THE best GM in the NFL when it comes to trades
-The winner of the NFC South will be 8-9
-Geno Smith belongs in the MVP conversation
-The Jets should aggressively search for an upgrade to Zach Wilson after the season
-There's a good chance that neither the Bengals or Rams make the playoffs
- Titans at Chiefs
-How much better of a chance do the Titans have of pulling off the upset with a healthy Ryan Tannehill under center compared to Malik Willis?
-What does Kadarius Toney bring to the Chiefs WR corps that they didn't have at the beginning of this season?
-Key matchups: Chris Jones and Nick Bolton versus Derrick Henry, Jeffery Simmons/Denico Autry vs. Creed Humphrey/Joe Thuney/Trey Smith
-Picks
- Picks for the remaining Week 9 games
-Eagles at Texans
-Vikings at Commanders
-Dolphins at Bears
-Packers at Lions
-Bills at Jets
-Colts at Patriots
-Raiders at Jaguars
-Panthers at Bengals
-Chargers at Falcons
-Rams at Bucs
-Seahawks at Cardinals
-Ravens at Saints
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: Taylor Heinicke scores 5 total TD (3 pass, 2 rush), including a game-winning TD pass to Terry McLaurin in the final seconds
-Hal: Damiere Byrd has 2 50+ yard TD receptions
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: NFC South...somebody PLEASE show us you want to win the division
-Hal: Brandon Staley and Chargers...with 4 of your next 5 games on the road...FIND A WAY TO WIN!!!!
- Week 7 Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: Designed runs are Justin Fields' best friend, Hal: Raiders are back on track offensively because of Josh Jacobs)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Patrick Mahomes, Hal: Joe Burrow)
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: Bill Belichick, Hal: Mike Caldwell)
-
On a scale of 1-10, what should the panic level be for the Pack and the Bucs, respectively?
-
Do you think the Colts are making the right choice by deciding to use the rest of the year to see what they have in Sam Ehlinger?
-
Truth or Exaggeration
-Barring a deep playoff run, the Chargers should fire Brandon Staley after this season and pay the Saints a king's ransom for the rights to Sean Payton
-The Bears have a keeper in head coach Matt Eberflus
-Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will be a hot head coaching candidate this cycle
-The Bengals are the biggest threat to the Bills and Chiefs in the AFC
-The Broncos should trade Bradley Chubb for at least a second and third-round pick
-The season-ending injury to Alijah Vera-Tucker will be even more costly than that of Breece Hall for the Jets
-The Seahawks are a serious threat to win the NFC West
- Giants at Seahawks
-Outside of him using his legs, what growth have you seen in Daniel Jones's game this year?
-The Seahawks are unlikely to have D.K. Metcalf available for this game, and perhaps longer. In his absence, do you anticipate Seattle religiously targeting Noah Fant and their tight ends?
-Key matchups: Kayvon Thibodeaux vs. Abraham Lucas/Charles Cross, Geno Smith vs. Wink Martindale, Tyre Phillips vs. Uchenna Nwosu
-Picks
- Packers at Bills
-Were Aaron Rodgers' comments on The Pat McAfee Show yesterday poorly timed?
-How much more improved are the Packers' chances to pull off the upset if Rashan Gary is cleared in time from his concussion?
-Key matchups: Kenny Clark vs. Bills iOL, Stefon Diggs/Gabriel Davis vs. Jaire Alexander
-Picks
- Picks for the remaining Week 8 games
-Ravens at Bucs
-Broncos at Jaguars
-Raiders at Saints
-Panthers at Falcons
-Bears at Cowboys
-Cardinals at Vikings
-Dolphins at Lions
-Patriots at Jets
-Steelers at Eagles
-Titans at Texans
-Commanders at Colts
-49ers at Rams
-Bengals at Browns
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: Packers are down 24-13 to start the fourth quarter, but Aaron Rodgers engineers two 70+ yard TD drives in the final 10 minutes, the second one ending in a 10-yard TD pass to Robert Tonyan at the gun
-Hal: Dameon Pierce 30 carries for 250 rushing yards and 4 TD
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Ravens...SHOW UP IN THE FOURTH QUARTER
-Hal: Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers...prove the naysayers wrong yet again!!
- Week 6 Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: Von Miller makes his strong case for DPOY even stronger, Hal: Cardinals look lost and shouldn't have extended Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Keim)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Quinnen Williams, Hal: Head coaches of victorious underdogs [Tomlin, Belichick, Daboll, Carroll])
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: Broncos and Bears offenses and punt returners, Hal: John Harbaugh and Eric DeCosta)
-
Six weeks into the season, both Tom Brady's Bucs and Aaron Rodgers' Packers find themselves STRUGGLING with each holding a record of 3-3. Which of these two teams are you more alarmed about and why?
-
The drop-off from the Bills, Eagles, Chiefs to the rest of the league only become more clear last week. If there's any other team that you believe will enter the same stratosphere as those three Super Bowl contenders, which one is it?
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Truth or Exaggeration
-The AFC East and NFC East are the two best divisions in football
-The Minnesota Vikings will win the NFC North
-If Trevor Lawrence was on the Jets, they'd be the third-best team in the AFC right now
-The Kansas City Chiefs should make an aggressive push to sign Odell Beckham, Jr.
-Bailey Zappe is creating a QB controversy in New England
-Tyreek Hill will break the single-season receiving yardage record, which is currently held by Calvin Johnson
-The winner of Sunday's weekend's Colts/Titans game will be the eventual AFC South winner
- Colts at Titans
-What was the secret behind Matt Ryan's career day and what do the Colts need to do in order to sustain this kind of offensive play for the rest of the season?
-How much of an advantage (or disadvantage) do the Titans have coming off a bye week?
-Key matchups: Colts TE's vs. Titans LB's/secondary, Derrick Henry vs. Colts front seven
-Picks
- Chiefs at 49ers
-If one of Hufanga or Bosa can't get healthy in time for Sunday, do you think it could only get worse against Mahomes and company?
-With a hobbled defense, how can the 49ers offense carry the load and help pull off the upset?
-Key matchups: Travis Kelce vs. Fred Warner, 49ers run game vs. Nick Bolton
-Picks
- Picks for the remaining Week 7 games
-Saints at Cardinals
-Falcons at Bengals
-Bucs at Panthers
-Lions at Cowboys
-Packers at Commanders
-Giants at Jaguars
-Browns at Ravens
-Jets at Broncos
-Texans at Raiders
-Seahawks at Chargers
-Steelers at Dolphins
-Bears at Patriots
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: 7 total TD for Dak Prescott (5 pass, 2 rush) in his return
-Hal: Patriots have to forfeit because of fan misbehavior and lose 2-0
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Packers and Bucs, you have "get right" games staring at you in the face. JUST DON'T PLAY DOWN TO THE COMPETITION!!!
-Hal: Dan Campbell and Lions...FIND WAYS TO WIN!!!
- Week 5 Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: Brian Daboll is showing why coaching MATTERS, Hal: Mike Tomlin is guaranteed to have the first losing season of his career)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Justin Tucker, Hal: Josh Allen)
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: Carl Cheffers, Hal: Brandon Staley)
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For the first time since Week 7 of 2015, both the Giants and Jets have winning records. Which one of the two New York teams are you more bullish on long-term, this season and beyond?
-
It has not been a good start to the season for either the defending Super Bowl champion Rams nor the runner-up Bengals. Both sit and 2-3 with sub-par OL play handcuffing their offenses. Which one of these teams would you say is more likely to miss the playoffs?
-
Truth or Exaggeration
-The Raiders will win AT LEAST 5 of their next 6 games
-2022 will be the final season of Matt Ryan's career
-Justin Fields' performance against the Vikings was EXACTLY the kind of game he needed and there are signs he may be turning a corner in his development
-The NFL's new concussion protocols are too strict
-The Panthers should trade Brian Burns and/or D.J. Moore in order to get more 2023 draft capital
-Rhamondre Stevenson is about to run away with the Patriots lead RB job
-If the Bills cannot become a more balanced offense than they are right now, they will not win Super Bowl LVII let alone make it there
- Bills at Chiefs
-For the first time in history, Patrick Mahomes is an underdog at home. Do you think the Chiefs should use that as bulletin board material for this week?
-Do you anticipate Andy Reid using A LOT of his patented screen game in order to mitigate the mismatch between the Chiefs OT's and the Bills edge rushers?
-Other key matchups: Stefon Diggs vs. Trent McDuffie, Travis Kelce vs. Bills LB's
-Picks
- Cowboys at Eagles
-Do you think the Eagles were exposed during their ugly-ish win over the Cardinals last week? If so, how?
-Aside from Micah Parsons and Tre'Von Diggs, who is the most important player on the Cowboys defense?
-Key matchups: CeeDee Lamb vs. Darius Slay, A.J. Brown vs. Tre'Von Diggs, Micah Parsons/Tank Lawrence, et al vs. Jordan Mailata/Lane Johnson, Osa Odighizuwa vs. Eagles iOL
-Picks
- Picks for the remaining Week 6 games
-Commanders at Bears
-Vikings at Dolphins
-Jets at Packers
-Patriots at Browns
-Bucs at Steelers
-Ravens at Giants
-Bengals at Saints
-49ers at Falcons
-Jaguars at Colts
-Panthers at Rams
-Cardinals at Seahawks
-Broncos at Chargers
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: Breece Hall totals 300+ total yards from scrimmage and 2 TD
-Hal: Sauce Gardner picks off Aaron Rodgers three times, including a pick-six
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Jalen Hurts, play with a chip on your shoulder
-Hal: Bears OC Luke Getsy, continue what you did last week in Minnesota
- Week 4 Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: Derrick Henry is back, Hal: Bad QB's stay bad, no matter the location (Trubisky, Mayfield, Wentz, Dalton)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Zach Wilson, Hal: Jamaree Salyer)
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: Shaq Barrett, Hal: Matt Ryan & Jonathan Taylor)
-
Quarter Pole Awards
-
Truth or Exaggeration
-The Dolphins SHOULD rest Tua Tagovailoa for a minimum of 4-6 weeks before allowing him to return to play
-DeMeco Ryans will be a head coach in 2023
-2022 will be the first losing season of Mike Tomlin’s career
-The NFC West is a more competitive division than the AFC West
-Geno Smith will get a long-term extension from the Seahawks after the season, and the Seahawks will not pick a QB with one of their two 2023 first-round picks
-The winner of the Eagles/Cowboys game in Week 6 will be the eventual NFC East winner
-Matt Rhule will be fired as head coach of the Panthers before the end of the 2022 season
- Cowboys at Rams
-The Super Bowl hangover is VERY real for the Rams, especially on offense. They have been outscored 44-3 in the fourth quarter in the season and outside of Cooper Kupp, nobody in the passing game seems to be stepping up. Why do you think this is the case for what’s usually been one of the NFL’s more reliable units in recent years?
-For reasons aside from Micah Parsons, why does this Cowboys defense seem to have taken another big step forward?
-Key matchups: Aaron Donald vs. Cowboys iOL, Tre’Von Diggs vs. Cooper Kupp, Jalen Ramsey vs. CeeDee Lamb
-Picks
- Raiders at Chiefs
-Should Josh McDaniels make Josh Jacobs and the ground game the focal point of his offensive game plan against the Chiefs in order to pull off the upset?
-Why do you think this Chiefs defense, who has tended to start out slow under Steve Spagnuolo, has had such an excellent start to the season?
-Key matchups: Maxx Crosby vs. Andrew Wylie, Chandler Jones vs. Orlando Brown, Jr., Chris Jones vs. Raiders iOL
- Picks for the remaining Week 5 games
-Colts at Broncos
-Giants at Packers
-Bears at Vikings
-Lions at Patriots
-Dolphins at Jets
-Steelers at Bills
-Chargers at Browns
-Texans at Jaguars
-Titans at Commanders
-Seahawks at Saints
-Falcons at Bucs
-49ers at Panthers
-Eagles at Cardinals
-Bengals at Ravens
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: Melvin Gordon fumbles at the goal line…and the Colts return it for the longest scoop-and-score in NFL history…and Phillip Lindsay runs for 250+ yards and 2 TD’s
-Hal: Jalen Hurts 7 total TD (4 pass, 3 run), 600 total yards of offense
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Chargers, build on the momentum from last Sunday
-Hal: Josh McDaniels and Dennis Allen, get those MUST-WINS this weekend
- Week 3 Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: Jaguars are for real, Hal: Jeff Okudah is becoming a legit CB1 after being written off)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Cooper Rush, Hal: Devin Lloyd)
-Dunce of the Week (DKrom: Brandon Staley, Hal: Carson Wentz)
-
Is it time to place Lamar Jackson in the elite tier of QB's?
-
Which team will suffer most from losing their star left tackle, the Chargers or 49ers?
-
Truth or Exaggeration
-It is almost time to panic about Russell Wilson and the Broncos offense
-The Bears have failed Justin Fields
-The 49ers BADLY miss Mike McDaniel
-The Bills should no longer be AFC favorites
-The Raiders are the best 0-3 team in modern NFL history
-Should Mac Jones miss a lot of time, the Patriots will be picking in the top-15, or even the top-12 of the 2023 NFL Draft
-Nick Sirianni is already a top-10 NFL head coach
- Jaguars at Eagles
-How well do you think this Jaguars defense matches up with the high-flying Eagles offense?
-Do you think Philly just might have the best WR combo in the NFL outside of Miami?
-Key matchups: Josh Allen/Travon Walker vs. Jordan Mailata/Lane Johnson, Christian Kirk/Zay Jones vs. Darius Slay/James Bradberry, James Robinson vs. Eagles DL
-Picks
- Bills at Ravens
-If Jordan Poyer cannot play in this game, will the absence of him and Micah Hyde be felt even more against the Ravens than it was against the Dolphins?
-The Ravens pass defense has picked up where it left off last year as it ranks dead last in the NFL through the first three weeks. Based on what you saw from them last week against the Patriots, just how big of a mismatch do they have on their hands with Josh Allen and the lethal Bills aerial attack coming to town?
-Key matchups: Josh Allen vs. Marcus Williams/Kyle Hamilton, Von Miller vs. Daniel Faalele
-Picks
- Picks for the remaining Week 4 games
-Dolphins at Bengals
-Saints at Vikings
-Seahawks at Lions
-Bears at Giants
-Commanders at Cowboys
-Browns at Falcons
-Jets at Steelers
-Titans at Colts
-Chargers at Texans
-Cardinals at Panthers
-Patriots at Packers
-Broncos at Raiders
-Chiefs at Bucs
-Rams at 49ers
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: Lions total 300+ yards on the ground with 200 of them by Jamaal Williams
-Hal: Josh Allen 7 passing TD's and 500+ passing yards, Lamar Jackson 7 total TD (4 pass, 3 rush). Allen finds Diggs for game-winning TD in final seconds
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Officials, LEARN WHAT PASS INTERFERENCE IS!!!!
-Hal: Lovie Smith and Josh McDaniels...GET THAT FIRST W!!!!!
- Week 2 Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: Tua Tagovailoa may be a very good QB after all, Hal: Darius Slay's shutdown performance against Justin Jefferson proves he's still an elite player...and that the Eagles are a complete team)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Lions G Dan Skipper, Hal: Jags DC Mike Caldwell)
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: Cleveland Browns, Hal: Chandler Jones)
- PANIC OR PATIENCE
-Bengals: PANIC
-Colts: PANIC
-Raiders: PATIENCE
-Titans: PANIC
- Truth or Exaggeration
-Micah Parsons will win 2022 NFL DPOY honors
-Amon-Ra St. Brown is already a top 10 WR in the NFL
-Jalen Hurts will be considered by most as a top-10 QB by season's end
-The 49ers are a FAR better team with Jimmy Garoppolo under center than with Trey Lance under center
-Given the disastrous start of the Nathaniel Hackett experiment, the Denver Broncos should be keeping a VERY close eye Sean Payton’s situation
-The New York Jets will win 6-7 games this season
-The Miami Dolphins are a serious threat to win the AFC East
- Bills at Dolphins
-According to TruMedia Sports, the Bills defense has registered the second highest pressure rate in the NFL (at 41.6% of drop-backs)...while blitzing just three times!! Do you think this is THE recipe for stopping this offensive juggernaut that Mike McDaniel seems to be building in Miami?
-What do you think the better mismatch weapon is…size or speed? Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle definitely make a strong case it’s the latter
-Key matchups: Jaylen Waddle/Tyreek Hill versus Bills LB’s/safeties, Stefon Diggs vs. Xavien Howard, Von Miller vs. Greg Little
-Picks
- Packers at Bucs
-Are we really looking at an Aaron Rodgers/Tom Brady clash that turns out to be a low-scoring, defensive slugfest?
-Key matchups: Kenny Clark vs. Bucs interior OL, Quay Walker vs. Bucs RB’s, Elgton Jenkins vs. Shaq Barrett
-Picks:
- Picks for the remaining Week 3 games
-Steelers at Browns
-Bengals at Jets
-Ravens at Patriots
-Lions at Vikings
-Texans at Bears
-Chiefs at Colts
-Raiders at Titans
-Eagles at Commanders
-Saints at Panthers
-Falcons at Seahawks
-Rams at Cardinals
-Jaguars at Chargers
-49ers at Broncos
-Cowboys at Giants
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: Broncos set the single-game record for penalties with 24, breaking the record of 23 that’s currently held by the Raiders from a 2016 game against the Buccaneers
-Hal: Cardinals WR Greg Dortch tops 200 receiving yards and scores 3 TD's
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Arthur Smith, FEED KYLE PITTS
-Hal: Nathaniel Hackett & Russell Wilson, TURN IT AROUND!!
- Week 1 Reactions
-Biggest Lesson Learned (DKrom: Long Snappers Matter, Hal: What was going on in the AFC South?)
-GOAT of the Week (DKrom: Brian Daboll, Hal: Jalen Hurts & Nick Sirianni)
-DUNCE of the Week (DKrom: Nathaniel Hackett, Hal: Atlanta Falcons)
-
Barring a slew of significant injuries, should anything less than a Lombardi Trophy in 2022 be considered an absolute failure for the Bills?
-
Do you think the Cowboys are making a mistake by rushing Dak Prescott back with such an injury, especially given the inept supporting cast he now has?
-
Truth or Exaggeration
-Justin Jefferson will lead the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving TD’s in 2022 a la Cooper Kupp last season in a Kevin O’Connell offense
-The New York Giants will start the season 4-0
-The Rams, in large part due to their OL issues, will not win the NFC West this season
-The Houston Texans and the Chicago Bears will be a tough out for any team this season
-Cardinals DC Vance Joseph severely damaged his status as a prospective head-coaching candidate with his ludicrous game plan to constantly blitz Patrick Mahomes
- Chargers at Chiefs
-Can you see the Chargers using the “rush three, drop eight” approach on Thursday night for at least some snaps?
-A few weeks ago, Patrick Mahomes told reporters that fantasy owners couldn’t depend on Chiefs WR’s this season because each week, somebody different would be the main guy. Which one of those wideouts do you think will be his best friend against a Chargers defense that might be getting J.C. Jackson back this week? Does the unpredictability of who he’ll be targeting each week somehow make this Chiefs offense equally as dangerous as the Tyreek Hill years?
-Key matchups: Chris Jones vs. Corey Linsley/Zion Johnson et al, George Karlaftis/Frank Clark vs. Trey Pipkins, Khalil Mack vs. Andrew Wylie, Mike Williams/Josh Palmer et al vs. Jaylen Watson (7th-round rookie from Washington State)
-Picks
- Picks for the remaining Week 2 games
-Jets at Browns
-Commanders at Lions
-Bucs at Saints
-Panthers at Giants
-Patriots at Steelers
-Colts at Jaguars
-Dolphins at Ravens
-Falcons at Rams
-Texans at Broncos
-Cardinals at Raiders
-Seahawks at 49ers
-Bengals at Cowboys
-Bears at Packers
-Titans at Bills
-Vikings at Eagles
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: Texans beat Broncos 31-20. Difference in the game is Broncos drive the ball inside the five twice in the second half…and both drives end up in pick-6’s (one by Derek Stingley, Jr., the other by Jalen Pitre)
-Hal: Trevor Lawrence totals 5 TD’s (4 pass, 1 rush) and 400 yards (375 passing yards, 25 rushing yards)
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Sean McVay, get more unpredictable on first down
-Hal: Kevin Stefanski and Cleveland Browns…keep running Chubb and Hunt 30+ times a game and win every winnable game
-
Do you think Russell Wilson’s contract extension was the best possible deal for both him and the Broncos?
-
Did the 49ers make the right decision to keep Jimmy Garoppolo as the backup to Trey Lance?
-
Could Tyron Smith’s injury end up being the difference between the Cowboys winning the NFC East and the Eagles winning it?
-
Truth or Exaggeration
-It is almost time to be in panic mode about Mac Jones and the Patriots offense
-Bears fans should be VERY encouraged by the progress Justin Fields has made as evidenced by his strong performance in the preseason finale against the Browns
-The Tennessee Titans will finish in third place in the AFC South this season behind the Colts and Jaguars
-The Packers will make a deep playoff run on the shoulders of a top-three defense in nearly every key metric
-The porous and (dare I say) despicable way the Bills handled the Matt Araiza situation will provide a rallying cry for their opponents all season long
- Bills at Rams
-How much can Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyerhelp mask the Bills current deficiencies at corner, especially on the boundary?
-This game also features two of the game’s top-six WR’s in Stefon Diggs and Cooper Kupp. However, they each have a running mate that I think will really shine. We obviously just mentioned Allen Robinson, but Gabriel Davis, he who caught 4 TD’s in that epic playoff thriller at Kansas City, could be just as potent this season. Is it fair to expect big games out of both on Thursday night?
-Key matchups: Diggs/Ramsey, Rob Havenstein or Joe Noteboom/Von Miller, Bills iOL/Aaron Donald
-Picks
-
Raiders at Chargers
-
Do you anticipate Josh McDaniels going with a strictly horizontal passing game in order to overcome that massive mismatch up front between the Raiders offensive line and the Chargers pass rush?
-If Josh Palmer becomes that viable third receiving option in Justin Herbert’s arsenal, will the Chargers offense be nearly unstoppable this season?
-Key matchups: Rashawn Slater/Chandler Jones or Maxx Crosby, Derwin James/Darren Waller
-Picks
-
Bucs at Cowboys
-
Do you think it would be best if the Cowboys sign Jason Peters and keep rookie Tyler Smith inside at guard for now?
-How worried should Bucs fans and Brady fantasy owners be about the current state of the Tampa O-Line?
-Key matchups: Zack Martin and Cowboys iOL/Vita Vea, Akiem Hicks, Logan Hall, Donovan Smith/Micah Parsons, Tristan Wirfs/Sam Williams
-Picks
- Picks for the remaining Week 1 games
-49ers at Bears
-Eagles at Lions
-Steelers at Bengals
-Ravens at Jets
-Patriots at Dolphins
-Colts at Texans
-Jaguars at Commanders
-Saints at Falcons
-Browns at Panthers
-Giants at Titans
-Packers at Vikings
-Chiefs at Cardinals
-Broncos at Seahawks
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
-DKrom: Baker Mayfield throws for over 250 yards and 3 TD passes, including a game-winner on the final play of regulation to get revenge on the Browns
-Hal: Mitchell Trubisky 150+ passing yards and 3 TD passes (all to George Pickens)
- CHALLENGE FLAGS
-DKrom: Officials, TONE DOWN on the careless taunting calls. Let the players be themselves in most of those situations
-Hal: Trey Lance…prove me wrong!!!!
-
What are your thoughts on the NFL/NFLPA settlement on an 11-game suspension for Deshaun Watson?
-
Biggest Takeaways from Week 1 of Preseason
-DKrom: Seahawks rookie class looks VERY special
-Hal: Kenny Pickett shines, Zach Wilson gets hurt
-
If Zach Wilson shows little to no progress this season, should the Jets HIGHLY prioritize selecting a QB with their 2023 first-round pick?
-
If Kenny Pickett maintains this efficient level of play these next two weeks, should that be enough for the Steelers to make him Trubisky’s backup to start the season?
-
How encouraged should the Broncos be about their options at the third WR spot with Tim Patrick out for the season?
-
The other big take-away from that game was the remarkable lack of discipline shown by the Cowboys, who committed a whopping 17 penalties. If this issue continues to rear its ugly head this season, is Mike McCarthy gone regardless of Sean Payton’s availability in 2023?
-
Trevor Lawrence makes the giant year 2 leap we all expect and if the defense consistently plays 1/10th of the way they played against the Browns last weekend, will the Jaguars be a legit candidate to go from worst-to-first?
-
Does Baker Mayfield, who is now 100% healthy, give the Panthers a respectable chance at a Wild Card playoff berth this season?
-
Truth or Exaggeration:
-Tyrod Taylor will replace Daniel Jones as the Giants starting QB by Week 8 or sooner
-Travis Jones will lead the Ravens in sacks this season
-Baron Browning will make Bradley Chubb expendable for the Broncos
-If the Bears trade Roquan Smith, Jaquan Brisker immediately becomes the best player on their defense
-Dameon Pierce will rush for 900+ yards and 8-9 TD
-Aaron Jones will catch 80+ passes for the Packers this season
-Malik Willis will start multiple games at QB for the Titans this year
-George Karlaftis will be in the DROY conversation by the end of the year
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Did the NFL do the right thing by appealing Judge Robinson’s decision on a six-game suspension for Deshaun Watson?
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If Romeo Doubs makes plays on the playing field these next three weeks, can you see him eventually becoming the Packers WR1 at some point this season?
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Several on Twitter mentioned a hypothetical trade with in which the Bears send Roquan Smith and their 2023 fifth-round pick to Pittsburgh for Chase Claypool, a 2023 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round pick. If the Steelers offered anything remotely close to such a package, would you accept that offer if you’re Ryan Poles?
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Help us make some sense here and give us some more context as to what’s going on in Foxboro right now
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How concerned are you about Matthew Stafford’s health throughout the course of this season?
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If Kenny Pickett is unable to leapfrog Rudolph for backup QB job in the preseason, how alarmed should the Steelers be, especially considering they spent a first-round pick on Pickett this past spring?
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What are your thoughts on the new Broncos ownership group?
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TRUTH OR EXAGGERATION
-Barring injury or unexpected bad play, Patrick Surtain II will be seen by many as a top-three corner by season’s end
-The Bills lack of proven cornerback depth behind Tre’Davious White, who’s coming off a torn ACL, will be the thing that prevents them from winning Super Bowl LVII, let alone making it to the big game
-Skyy Moore will become Patrick Mahomes’ favorite WR to throw to at some point this season
-The deep and talented Philadelphia Eagles will win the NFC East in 2022
-The Chargers will have a top-five scoring offense AND scoring defense in 2022
-The New Orleans Saints are a legitimate threat to the Bucs in the NFC South
-2022 will be a season in reverse for the Cardinals, as they’ll start slow and finish strong given the six-game suspension of DeAndre Hopkins
-2022 will be Trevor Lawrence’s massive breakout campaign
-
You return to the pro sports cheer/dance circuit after a five-year hiatus. What made you want to resume dancing…and specifically, to try out for Broncos? It’s just been over three months since you made the team. Describe what that moment was like
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What does it mean to you as a woman of color that the new Broncos ownership group includes Mellody Hobson and Condoleezza Rice?
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What are the main responsibilities of a Cloud Alliance Manager?
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You were a Dallas Mavericks dancer. What was that experience like? Even though you’re just a few months into your DBC tenure, what are some of the differences you already notice between being an NBA Dancer and being an NFL Cheerleader?
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How much more exciting and special does getting to cheer for Russell Wilson make your DBC rookie season? What other Broncos players are you excited to watch this season?
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This Or That
-What excites you more, a Broncos sack or a Broncos interception?
-Who would you like to spend a day with, Dirk Nowitzki or Luka Doncic?
-What type of food would you rather serve at a party, BBQ or seafood?
-Where would you rather travel to, Europe or Asia?
-Favorite DBC uniform, chaps or skirt?
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One of the blessings of becoming a Denver Broncos Cheerleader is that it gives you a platform to promote causes that are near and dear to your heart. What causes do you intend to use that platform to promote?
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Music Superlatives
-Best song to get you fired up before a game: “Forever” by Drake
-Best song to celebrate a Broncos TD to: “Good Feelin’” by Flo Rida
-Best song to celebrate a Broncos win to: “That’s The Way” by K.C. & The Sunshine Band
-Song that best describes the person you are: “Unwritten” by Natasha Bettingfield, “Queen” by Beyone
-Best possible theme song for the 2022 DBC: “I’m Every Woman” by Whitney Houston
- Do you see the example of the special bond between you and your teammates as a small but significant part of the bulwark needed to overcome the surge in bigotry, nationalism, intolerance and autocracy?
- SECOND-YEAR QB’s
-Now with Urban Meyer gone and Doug Pederson now running the show in Duval County, do you expect to see the Week 18 version of Trevor Lawrence for the vast majority of the 2022 season?
-Based on your film study of him, what single aspect of his game MUST Wilson improve dramatically in order to have a successful sophomore pro campaign?
-Based on what you saw from Trey Lance on film in his two 2021 starts, do you think he is anywhere near close to ready to take command of the Niners offense?
-In terms of realistic expectations, how would you characterize a successful 2022 campaign for Justin Fields?
-How confident are you that Mac Jones, at least for the most part, will avoid the dreaded sophomore slump?
- THE OLD LIONS
-Schematically speaking, how would you anticipate Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers to work around the limitations of their WR room this season?
-Do you think that’s a smart bet to take the under on the Bucs 2022 O/U Vegas win total of 11.5?
- THE WILD WEST
-Do you anticipate little-to-no drop-off from Mahomes and the offense and how do you think the Chiefs will compensate for the loss of Tyreek Hill?
-Do you think that Brandon Staley can afford to “take the points” at similar times this season, especially since he’s going to have a defense that is far more equipped to protect a lead?
-Despite their question marks and shortcomings, I’m still not ready to say that the Broncos or Raiders are clearly the worst team in the division…and I still would not be shocked out of my shoes if either team finish first or second in the division. What do YOU think the key is to such a finish for Denver and Las Vegas?
- HURTS/TUA
-Two teams that have assembled deep and talented rosters for this season and beyond are the Dolphins and Eagles. Both teams have caches of offensive playmakers that keep defensive coordinators up at night, deep defensive fronts and star-studded cornerback tandems. But neither team’s QB situation inspires that much confidence. I don’t intend to be mean here as I hope both QB’s have elite seasons and prove me wrong, but which of the two QB’s do you think caps their respective team’s ceiling the most, Jalen Hurts or Tua Tagovailoa?
- KYLER WITHOUT HOPKINS
-What is the best way for Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury to overcome DeAndre Hopkins’ absence in the first six games of the season?
- AFC NORTH
-How good of a chance do you think Kenny Pickett has to be the man under center for the Steelers in Week 1? Who wins the Steelers QB competition in training camp/preseason?
-Are the Ravens a great bet to win the AFC North in 2022?
-Where exactly can this Bengals offensive line end up relative to the rest of the league and how much will Burrow’s absence harm their ability to improve cohesion?
- THE CHAMPS AND THE FAVORITES
-Two players who are almost as important as Von Miller in being that final puzzle piece in Buffalo are Ed Oliver and Gregory Rousseau. Of those two, which one would you anticipate becoming the Robin to Von’s Batman?
-What does Allen Robinson bring to the Rams offense that neither OBJ nor Robert Woods did?
- Giants
-Explain why you had Kayvon Thibodeaux at the top EDGE on your board
-Given Evan Neal’s high floor/ceiling combination and the progress Thomas made last season, can you see the Giants having a top-five OT combo within the next 2-3 seasons?
-Why do you think the Giants took Wan’Dale Robinson that high?
-The Giants had two third-round picks at 67 and 81 overall. With those selections, they took North Carolina G Joshua Ezeudu and LSU CB CorDale Flott. Which one of those two is more likely, in your view, to become a long-term contributor for the Giants?
- Commanders
-Was there a sizable gap between Chris Olave and Jahan Dotson that warranted them staying put and taking the former, or was the trade down and subsequent selection of Dotson warranted?
-Do you think Phidarian Mathis has the ability to make Payne expendable?
-Can you see Brian Robinson, Jr. siphoning away short-yardage and goal line carries from Antonio Gibson this season?
- Eagles
-Outside of Baltimore, was there a better situation than Philly for Jordan Davis to end up in?
-By adding A.J. Brown to an offensive skill group that includes DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert, do the Eagles now boast a top 5-10 receiving corps?
-Do you think it’s very possible Cam Jurgens has equally as good of a career as Tyler Linderbaum?
-Do you think Nakobe Dean will prove doubters wrong and have a long, productive career?
- Cowboys
-Tyler Smith will likely start out at guard and eventually kick out to tackle to succeed another Smith in Tyron Smith. Do you think that’s the best possible development plan for him?
-What makes Sam Williams such an intriguing talent and how soon will the Cowboys feel his impact in that pass rush?
-Would you be surprised if Jalen Tolbert surpasses Michael Gallup on the depth chart within the next three seasons?
- Name a player (either drafted or UDFA) from each team we have not yet discussed that you think will have a successful NFL career
-Giants: Micah McFadden
-Commanders: Sam Howell
-Eagles: Kyron Johnson, Grant Calcaterra
-Cowboys: Matt Waletzko
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As you know, it takes a lot of responsibility to be a Denver Broncos Cheerleader, and even more as a team captain. What are your main responsibilities as a DBC captain off the field as well as on the field?
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We mentioned the current job you had in the intro (and we’ll get to that soon) but a previous job you had was as a character performer at Disney World. How did that experience shape you into the woman you are today? What Disney character do you think resembles you the most?
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A short time ago, we had your wonderful teammate Sophia on the show, who, like you, is a full-time elementary school teacher. I asked her this exact same question. Why did you decide to pursue a career in elementary education?
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Aside from witnessing Chichen Itza at night, what were the moments from your recent trip to the Yucatan that stood out to you the most?
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Where were you the moment you learned the Broncos traded for Russell Wilson and how did you react? What are your expectations for the Broncos this season?
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Over/Under
-35 TD passes for Russell Wilson: Over
-1200 rushing yards for Javonte Williams: Over
-8 rushing TD for Melvin Gordon: Over
-7 receiving TD for Courtland Sutton: Over
-3,300 receiving yards combined for Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, and Jerry Jeudy: Over
-6 sacks for Bradley Chubb: Over
-8 combined interceptions for Justin Simmons and Patrick Surtain II: Under
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You are a passionate advocate for mental health. What is the best advice you can give to people who are feeling almost hopeless given the increasingly dark state of our world?
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Music Superlatives
-Best song to get you fired up before a game (aside from “Thunderstruck”): “All The Small Things” by Blink 182
-Best song to celebrate a Broncos TD to (aside from “Don’t Stop The Party”): “YMCA” by the Village People
-Best song to celebrate a Broncos win to (aside from “All I Do Is Win”, “Jump Around” and “Celebration”): “Ain’t Far From It” by Luke Combs
-Song that best describes the person you are: “Happy” by Pharrell
-BONUS THIS OR THAT: Which is the better song for a Quarter Break routine, ‘Til You Can’t (Cody Johnson) or When It Rains It Pours (Luke Combs)?
- What are five such values or personal characteristics in your view that somebody ABSOLUTELY MUST have in order to become a DBC?
(Photo of Chelsea by Paul Cloud)
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Why should Broncos fans be expecting the “boom” more than the “bust” from Nathaniel Hackett and the new coaching staff?
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Based on what we do know about the Walton/Penner ownership group, are there many reasons to hope that the Broncos won’t be getting such a massive downgrade in ownership from the Bowlens to the Waltons?
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What similarities or differences do you see with the arrival of Russell Wilson in Denver compared to that of Peyton Manning?
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Is there any level of concern within the Broncos that Russell Wilson’s best days may be behind him and defenses may have him figured out?
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If there’s a player from the Broncos 2022 draft class who will have a sizable impact this season, who will it be and why?
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Fantasy Football
-Currently, per Fantasy Football Calculator, the Average Draft Position (ADP) of Javonte Williams is 14, and the ADP of Melvin Gordon is 73. Do you think Javonte Williams is worth the 14th overall pick in fantasy leagues regardless of format, or would you rather take Melvin Gordon at his current ADP?
-Which Broncos WR should fantasy owners target the most in drafts: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, or Tim Patrick?
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What position battles in training camp should Broncos Country be paying attention to the most? What position group is the biggest weakness on the Broncos: OL or DL/pass rush?
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The Broncos have numerous players coming out of contract after the 2022 season such as Bradley Chubb and Dre’Mont Jones. Which of those impending free agents do you think is most likely to get re-signed to a long-term deal: Dre’Mont Jones, Bradley Chubb or someone else?
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2022 Season Predictions
-MVP: Russell Wilson
-Most Improved Player: Jerry Jeudy
-Sleeper Who Will Break Out: Montrell Washington
-Bounce-Back Player: K.J. Hamler
-Coach of the Year: Dwayne Stukes
- Do you sense very similar vibes with this year’s Broncos team that you did in 2015?
(Photo by Gabriel Christus)
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Which audition process was more difficult for you: making the team for the first time last year or re-auditioning to earn your chaps back this year?
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Why do you think the Denver Outlaws Dancers were such a major training ground for prospective DBC’s?
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What kind of content were you shooting down in Mexico this spring and what will the final product(s) look like?
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Why did you decide to switch careers from teaching to marketing? What advice would you give anybody of any age wanting to make such a change when it comes to employment?
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How did you react when you first heard the news that Russell Wilson was going to be a Bronco? What are your expectations for the Broncos this season?
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2022 Broncos season predictions
-Leader in rushing yards: Javonte Williams
-Leader in rushing TD’s: Melvin Gordon
-Leader in receiving yards: Jerry Jeudy
-Leader in receiving TD’s: Courtland Sutton
-Leader in sacks: Bradley Chubb
-Leader in interceptions: Patrick Surtain II
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Each year, the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders pair two women up as Business Partners or BP’s. In DBC lingo, what is a Business Partner (BP) and how does it help improve team camaraderie?
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Rock and Roll Superlatives
-Best rock song to get you fired up before a game: “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin or “Renegade” by Styx
-Best rock song to celebrate a Broncos TD to: “Rockin' the Paradise” by Styx
-Best rock song to celebrate a Broncos win to: “Feelin' Satisfied” by Boston
-Best Styx song to perform a Quarter Break routine to (one that you haven’t performed to as of yet): “Blue Collar Man”
-Rock song that best describes the person you are: “More Than A Feeling” by Boston
-BONUS THIS OR THAT: Which is the better song for a Quarter Break routine, Bang The Drum All Day (Todd Rundgren) or Double Back (ZZ Top)?
- Do you think cheerleaders just as physically and mentally tough (or even tougher) than the players?
(Photo of Shannon by Rob Hawthorne)
- Jaguars
-In the long run you think Travon Walker’s production will end up matching his jaw-dropping traits?
-Several analysts, including Mark Schofield, pointed out Lloyd’s underrated Micah Parsons-esque versatility to rush off the edge as well as play that off-ball LB position. Right after this pick was made, I envisioned a sub-package with Lloyd and Josh Allen on the edge and Travon Walker kicking inside, where many believe he could really feast as a pass rusher. Given that the Jaguars selected another LB on Day 2 with Chad Muma, who is a very instinctive, “QB of the defense” kind of player, can you see Jacksonville using such a sub-package quite often?
-The Jaguars spent the first of their two third-round picks on Kentucky C Luke Fortner. Do you think he starts Week 1?
- Texans
-Based on your understanding, why did the Texans prefer Derek Stingley, Jr. instead of the more proven Sauce Gardner?
-Why did the Texans opt for Kenyon Green over Johnson?
-On Day 2, the Texans selected two more very promising defensive prospects in Baylor S Jalen Pitre and Alabama LB Christian Harris. If you had to pick one, which one of those two players would you say is more likely to become a long-term piece on defense for the Texans?
-Would you be surprised if John Metchie becomes the go-to guy for Davis Mills on third down at some point this season?
- Colts
-As good as a player as Alec Pierce is, he is extremely similar to Michael Pittman. What differences, if any, exist in Pierce’s game that can complement Pittman’s game well?
-Do you expect Jelani Woods to get significant work as that in-line, blocking TE for the Colts this season?
-Why do you think Bernhard Raimann fell all the way to the third round? Will he be the Colts starting left tackle Week 1?
- Titans
-Do you believe Treylon Burks will be a long-term upgrade over A.J. Brown?
-How high were you on Roger McCreary during the pre-draft process and do you think he can be a top 10-15 corner in the league despite his lack of length and middling athleticism?
-Can you see Malik Willis taking over this offense as early as some time next season?
- Name a player (either drafted or UDFA) from each team we have not yet discussed that you think will have a successful NFL career
-Jaguars: Montaric Brown
-Texans: Teagan Quitoriano
-Colts: Nick Cross
-Titans: Hassan Haskins
- Browns
-If Deshaun Watson is suspended for the entire 2022 season, do you think the Browns end up with a top-10 pick in 2023, which is one that will obviously belong to the Texans?
-How does Martin Emerson fit into this deep and talented Browns secondary?
-Can you see Alex Wright as that long-term bookend to Myles Garrett coming off the edge?
-What skills does David Bell bring to the Browns WR room that they were lacking before the draft?
- Ravens
-What makes Kyle Hamilton such an extra special talent? Aside from positional value, why do you think he fell all the way to 14?
-Do you think the Ravens will have to significantly adjust their blocking scheme for Tyler Linderbaum?
-In the long run, who will turn out to be the bigger steal for the Ravens: David Ojabo or Travis Jones?
- Steelers
-When is the earliest you can see Kenny Pickett starting this season? Do you think the Steelers are THE team for Pickett to overachieve with?
-Do you think there was a legit argument for George Pickens being THE best receiver in this class in terms of raw talent? Would you be surprised or shocked if he ends up becoming THE go-to guy for Kenny Pickett in the passing game?
-What is the most realistic long-term role for DeMarvin Leal?
- Bengals
-Do you share the view that Daxton Hill can thrive at boundary corner should the Bengals decide to utilize him there?
-Do the Bengals see Cam Taylor-Britt as a corner or safety?
-Is Zachary Carter an ideal replacement for Larry Ogunjobi?
- Name a player (either drafted or UDFA) from each team we have not yet discussed that you think will have a successful NFL career
-Browns: Dawson Deaton, Jerome Ford
-Ravens: Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Daniel Faalele
-Steelers: Calvin Austin III
-Bengals: Kwamie Lassiter II
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It’s been just over one year and one month since you became a DBC…and the moment you made the team was one of historical significance for the DBC and the Broncos organization. Explain why that was so
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Just a few months ago, you and some of your teammates went on a military tour that included stops in Portugal, Spain and Italy. What were some of the major highlights from that adventure?
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As we mentioned in the intro, your full time job is teaching kindergarten. What made you want to pursue a career in elementary education?
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What do you think is the most important responsibility of elementary school teachers during these times?
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We are just three weeks removed from another historic moment in Broncos history. On June 7, it was announced that the Broncos would be sold to the ownership group led by Rob Walton, heir to the Wal-Mart fortune and his son-in-law Greg Penner for a record $4.65 billion. Another key member of that group is Mellody Hobson, who is the current President and co-CEO of Ariel Investments, Vice Chair of Starbucks and a Director at JPMorgan Chase. If the sale is ratified, as expected, Hobson will become the first black female to be part of an NFL ownership group. What are your initial thoughts on this sale and these soon-to-be new Broncos owners?
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How did you react when you first heard the news that the Broncos traded for Russell Wilson? How high are your expectations for the Broncos this season?
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Earlier this month, you and your teammates have already begun practicing very hard for the season. Describe for us what a typical DBC practice is like from start to finish
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COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERLATIVES
-Best song to get you fired up before a game: “Lil Bit” by Nelly & Florida Georgia Line
-Best song to celebrate a Broncos TD to: “Get Ready” by Blake Shelton & Pitbull
-Best song to celebrate a Broncos victory to: “I Like It, I Love It” by Tim McGraw
-Best Luke Combs song to perform a Quarter Break routine to (a song you haven’t performed to as of yet): “When It Rains It Pours”
-Best Darius Rucker song to perform any type of on-field routine to (either Quarter Break or sideline vamp): “Homegrown Honey”
-Song that best describes the person you are: “Stars In The City” by Old Dominion
-BONUS “THIS OR THAT”: Which of the following Brooks & Dunn songs would you prefer to perform a Quarter Break routine to, Honky Tonk Stomp or Boot Scootin’ Boogie?
- What are the qualities that set the DBC apart from all other pro sports cheer/dance teams?
(Photo of Sophia by Laura Murray)
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If you could re-live one experience during your time with the Falcons, would it be Super Bowl LI, the 2019 Pro Bowl…or something else?
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Shortly after your memorable week at the 2019 Pro Bowl, you auditioned for Broncos and obviously made the team. What made you want to try out for DBC?
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As both you and I know, Mile High is one of THE most electric game-day atmospheres in the NFL, and it should be even more so this season. But as we mentioned in the intro, you went to THE University of Alabama, which arguably has THE most electric game-day atmosphere in college football. Compare and contrast for us a game-day experience at Bryant-Denny Stadium to a game-day experience at Mile High
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You also have a very inspiring story as to why you decided to go into nursing. Feel free to share some of that story with us
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What has been your most memorable experience as a DBC thus far?
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Where were you when you first heard the news that the Broncos were trading for him and how did you react? Given the presence of Russell Wilson, just how high are your expectations for the Broncos this season?
-
Do you think it’s very helpful, if not essential, to know the words of a song you’re performing a routine to?
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COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERLATIVES
-Best song to get you fired up before a game: “She’s Country” by Jason Aldean
-Best song to celebrate a Broncos TD to: “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)” by Big & Rich
-Best song to celebrate a Broncos victory to: “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker
-Best Luke Combs song to perform a Quarter Break routine to (a song you haven’t performed to as of yet): “Lovin’ on You”
-Best Darius Rucker song to perform any kind of on-field routine to (either Quarter Break or Sideline Vamp): “Homegrown Honey”
-Song that best describes the person you are: “Good Times Roll” by Jimmie Allen and Nelly
- Do you see the 2022 DBC as a powerful example of the beauty in our differences…and do you think that example can help breathe new life into values that are BADLY lacking right now?
(Photo of Alexandria by Rob Hawthorne)
- Panthers
-Why do you think the Panthers went with Ikem Ekwonu over Evan Neal and Charles Cross?
-Barring the Panthers acquiring Jimmy Garoppolo or Baker Mayfield before the season, how many games do you see Matt Corral starting in 2022?
- Falcons
-For the second consecutive year, the Falcons selected a passing game weapon with a top-10 pick in USC WR Drake London. While I personally like London a lot, an NFL decision-maker, who obviously knows football better than I ever will, anonymously told Mike Sando of The Athletic that London gave him vibes of Mike Williams, another USC WR who was a top-10 pick in 2005, yet did not live up to expectations. Do you have similar feelings and if not, why will Drake London have a far more successful NFL career?
-What do Arnold Ebiketie and DeAngelo Malone give the Falcons anemic pass rush THIS YEAR?
-Is Troy Andersen a long-term replacement for Foye Oloukun or Deion Jones?
-How many games do you see Desmond Ridder starting this season?
- Saints
-With Chris Olave and Jarvis Landry now joining forces with Michael Thomas, do you think Jameis Winston could be in for the best season of his career?
-If you could pick one part of Trevor Penning’s game that he needs to fix in order to become a franchise cornerstone, what would it be and why?
-Do you see Alontae Taylor becoming a premiere slot corner in the NFL?
- Bucs
-While many (if not most) project Logan Hall as an interior rusher, some others, most notably Dane Brugler, believe that Hall can be a force off the edge as well. What do you believe the best possible sub-package role for Hall is?
-In the long-term, can you see Luke Goedeke being a candidate to potentially replace Donovan Smith at left tackle for the Bucs?
-Can you see Rachaad White eventually supplanting Gio Bernard as the Bucs third-down back at some point this season?
- Name a player (either drafted or UDFA) from each team we have not yet discussed that you think will have a successful NFL career
-Panthers: Amare Barno
-Falcons: Tyler Allgeier
-Saints: Jordan Jackson
-Bucs: Zyon McCollum
- Jets
-Can you see Sauce Gardner making a similar impact for the Jets his rookie year as Patrick Surtain did for the Broncos?
-What does Garrett Wilson bring to the Jets receiving corps that Elijah Moore and Corey Davis do not?
-With Jermaine Johnson now in the fold, would you be surprised if the Jets DL is regarded as the best such unit in the NFL either later this season or some time in 2023?
-How do you see Breece Hall and Michael Carter splitting the workload at RB this season?
- Dolphins
-Thanks to the Tyreek Hill trade, the Dolphins cupboard of picks was pretty bare, as they did not pick until 102 overall. That said, I personally think they landed EXCELLENT value by selecting Georgia LB Channing Tindall with that pick. What were your thoughts on this pick and do you think Tindall will eventually outplay that draft slot?
- Patriots
-What was your pre-draft evaluation on Cole Strange and do you think he’ll be worth this pick long-term?
-Do you think Tyquan Thornton is an ideal target for Mac Jones in the passing game?
-Can you see the Patriots having a package of plays for Marcus Jones on offense this year?
- Bills
-Does Kaiir Elam immediately upgrade that position and if so, why?
-How does James Cook make the high-powered Bills offense even more dangerous?
-Do you think Khalil Shakir should be able to stick around and eventually become a trusted target for Josh Allen in certain situations long-term?
- Name a player (either drafted or UDFA) from each team we have not yet discussed that you think will have a successful NFL career
-Jets: Jeremy Ruckert
-Dolphins: Cameron Goode
-Patriots: Jack Jones
-Bills: Luke Tenuta
- Chiefs
-Will Trent McDuffie change the paradigm for how the NFL views the cornerback position
-Do you think George Karlaftis will become a similar, dependable long-term player for the Chiefs as Brandon Graham has been for the Eagles?
-What does Skyy Moore bring to the Chiefs WR corps that Marquez Valdes-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster do not? Can you see Moore becoming the #2 target for Patrick Mahomes at some point this season?
-Who will make a bigger impact for the Chiefs defense this season: Bryan Cook or Leo Chenal?
- Broncos
-A lot of Broncos fans and FANalysts were lukewarm about the Nik Bonitto selection. What reasons, if any, are there for those people to warm up to Bonitto?
-Is Greg Dulcich the ideal tight end for Russell Wilson?
-Who is more likely to become a long-term contributor for the Broncos: Damarri Mathis or Eyioma Uwazurike?
- Chargers
-With Zion Johnson now in the fold, how do you see the Chargers starting five on the offensive line looking like come Week 1?
-Do you share the view that J.T. Woods can be a similar third-round bargain for the Chargers as Justin Simmons turned out to be for the Broncos?
-Do you see Isaiah Spiller making an immediate impact this season and if so, how do you see him and Austin Ekeler splitting the workload at RB?
- Raiders
-Do you see Dylan Parham starting in Week 1? Is his best long term spot at center or guard?
-Would you be surprised if Zamir White emerges at the starter at RB for the Raiders at some point this season?
- Players we didn't mention (either drafted or UDFA) on each AFC West team that Mark sees having long-term NFL careers
-Chiefs: Justyn Ross
-Broncos: Matt Henningsen
-Chargers: Zander Horvath
-Raiders: Thayer Munford, Jr. and Matthew Butler
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Describe the DBC audition process in-depth and explain what makes it so unique
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In a recent interview with Alexis Rae Perry on Broncos Country Connected, your amazing director Shawna Peters said she has shown some of the questions on that football test to players and they came away a bit surprised at how advanced some of them were. What was your score on the football test this year and can you recall some examples of such questions Shawna was alluding to?
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If you had to pick your most memorable moment as a DBC so far, what would it be and why?
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As we mentioned at the top of the program, your full-time job is an Early Intervention Senior Service Coordinator. Describe the basic roles and responsibilities of that job for us
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You and I have a mutual friend who has been on this podcast multiple times before…and was a teammate of yours in 2016, your DBC rookie season. Of course, I’m talking about Romi Bean, who is now a world-class sports reporter and anchor for CBS Denver. Did you learn anything specifically from Romi during your time on the team together that has stuck with you ever since?
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When Romi came on this program last summer, she described what the 2015 Super Bowl-winning season was like. She told me that from start to finish, you could feel a vibe from top to bottom in the organization that suggested something special was going on and that we can win the whole thing. She also said that the cheerleaders had the same kind of special chemistry as the players did that year and implied that literally EVERYONE in the organization cranked their game up to 11. Now fast forward to this season where the Broncos have Russell Wilson now in the fold. Can you sense a similar vibe throughout the organization that Romi did in 2015?
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How many community service hours are you required to perform per year and what are some of your favorite causes to support in the Denver and Colorado community?
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COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERLATIVES
-Best song to get you fired up before a game: “Throw It Back” by Keith Urban &
-Best song to celebrate a Broncos TD to: Anything by Kane Brown
-Best song to celebrate a Broncos victory to: “Proud of the House We Built” by Brooks & Dunn
-Best Luke Combs song to perform a Quarter Break routine to (a song you haven’t performed to as of yet): Beer Never Broke My Heart
-Song that best describes the person you are: “When It Rains It Pours” by Luke Combs
- How would you define the word cheerleader?
(Photo of McKenna by Rob Hawthorne)
This summer, we will be interviewing several of the 2022 Denver Broncos Cheerleaders. But before then, I wanted to share my personal story as to just how much the women on this team past and present have meant to me
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As you know, we are just a few days away from the 2022 NFL Draft. Hundreds of young men will see their dreams come true as they will get drafted to play in America’s biggest professional sports league. But the pre-draft process, as I’m sure you’d agree having gone through it yourself, is the grind of grinds with all the training, the Combine, Pro Days, top-30 team visits, etc. Describe what a day in the life of a prospect looks like in the days leading up to the draft
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A few weeks ago, you and your Bears teammates became your 2022 offseason program with a completely new regime in place. What are your early impressions of new Head Coach Matt Eberflus and new GM Ryan Poles?
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Even though the Bears are currently undergoing a major roster overhaul that will take some time, there is still a lot of optimism amongst Bears fans because of the promising young QB you block for in Justin Fields. In addition, you have a new OC in Luke Getsy, someone that Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams RAVED about and valued highly during their time together in Green Bay. How will Getsy’s offense get the most out of Justin Fields?
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For the first three years of your pro career, you got to be in the same building with one of the most renowned coaches in modern NFL history, Vic Fangio. As of right now, his defense is the most popular scheme around the entire league. Why do you think that is the case and how does Fangio’s D make life extra difficult on an offense?
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There is a hot center prospect in this year’s draft in Tyler Linderbaum from Iowa. He may be the most talented center to enter the league in quite some time. However, there is buzz that suggests that he may fall out of the first round at least in part because he’s strictly a center with little-to-no experience at guard. Why does the NFL put such a huge premium on interior offensive linemen that can play both center and guard like yourself?
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As you can tell by the background in my room, I am a huge Denver Broncos fan. And I believe you may know a certain someone on the Broncos. Of course, I’m talking about your fellow K-State offensive linemen Dalton Risner. Do you know Dalton and if so, how often do you communicate these days? How will the Nathaniel Hackett offense (which likely has several similarities to Getsy’s) allow Dalton to play the best ball of his career this season?
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How does the job of an OL change when blocking for an athletic QB known for extending plays like a Justin Fields or Russell Wilson?
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What are some of your favorite causes off the field to champion and why?
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COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERLATIVES
-Best pre-game warm-up song: “The Boys Of Fall” –Kenny Chesney
-Best TD song: “They Don’t Know” –Jason Aldean
-Best song to help cope with a loss: “Till You Can’t” –Cody Johnson
-Best victory song: “Proud Of This House We Built” –Brooks & Dunn
-Best song for a first dance at a wedding: “Who I Am With You” –Chris Young
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As you know this spring in the NFL can be summed up in one word: trades. We have seen star player after star player get traded for a bounty of draft picks…and we may not be done. As ESPN’s Jeff Darlington reported on Wednesday, 49ers star WR Deebo Samuel has asked for a trade. While the Niners apparently do not intend to honor that request at this time, you know as well as anybody that things in the NFL can change in a flash. Can you see Deebo getting traded either right before or during the draft?
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Regardless of how the situation with Deebo Samuel unfolds, Peter King said in his Football Morning in America column a week or so ago that he sees a lot of trades going down during the draft. Saints GM Mickey Loomis told King that since the consensus on draft boards across the league is the smallest it has been in a long time, maybe ever, he expects a player the Saints have graded in their top-20 to be within striking distance for them at 49 overall. Another GM said he could see teams without a first-round pick this year trade next year’s first and second to move as far up the board as possible. Just how robust do you see the trade market being on Draft Day itself?
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To summarize how much I LOVE football, both my favorite professional sports period are NFL teams. One is the Denver Broncos, and the other (I believe they’re your favorite NFL team) the Chicago Bears. What is the latest intel you’re hearing about the draft plans of both of those teams?
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LISTENER QUESTION: The Packers have historically preferred to wait until the second round to draft a WR. Do you think Green Bay actually drafts a WR in the first round this year?
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While this year’s QB class is very underwhelming, quarterbacks still figure to be a central theme for how the first round unfolds. We will very likely see three signal callers get their names called next Thursday night, if not more. The only mystery is when exactly they’ll come off the board. So here’s a hypothetical. Let’s say the Panthers at six stay put and draft one of the top three OT’s, when would you anticipate the first QB being selected? How many QB’s do you think go in the first round when all is set and done?
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With just a week before the draft, we always tend to get hot buzz about certain players rising up boards and others falling down the boards. Which players do you believe will get drafted much earlier than anticipated, and which players do you believe will be drafted much later than anticipated?
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MOCK DRAFT 5.0
-Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson
-Lions: Kayvon Thibodeaux
-Texans: Travon Walker
-Jets: Sauce Gardner
-Giants: Evan Neal
-Panthers: Ikem Ekwonu
-Chargers [from Giants]: Charles Cross
-Falcons: Kyle Hamilton
-Seahawks: Malik Willis
-Jets: Drake London
-Commanders: Derek Stingley, Jr.
-Vikings: Garrett Wilson
-Texans: Trevor Penning
-Ravens: Jermaine Johnson
-Eagles: Devonte Wyatt
-Saints: Jameson Williams
-Giants (from Chargers): Zion Johnson
-Eagles: Chris Olave
-Saints: Kenny Pickett
-Steelers: Desmond Ridder
-Patriots: Trent McDuffie
-Packers: Jordan Davis
-Cardinals: Andrew Booth, Jr.
-Cowboys: George Karlaftis
-Bills: Jahan Dotson
-Titans: Bernhard Raimann
-Bucs: Tyler Linderbaum
-Packers: Christian Watson
-Chiefs: Treylon Burks
-Chiefs: Devin Lloyd
-Bengals: Kenyon Green
-Lions: Lewis Cine
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Buzz suggests the Giants are one of the two teams in the top-10 that are most likely to trade back. GM Joe Schoen wants to pull off a similar trade the division-rival Eagles just made with the Saints and get an additional 2023 first-round pick. However, the feeling around the NFL is that there isn’t a player in this draft worth spending such capital to trade up for, which means that such a haul is unlikely for the Giants. That said, should the Giants accept an offer that includes say an extra second AND extra third next year?
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In recent weeks, it has become easier to decipher what the Commanders intend to do compared to most teams. First, they give up A LOT to trade for Carson Wentz. And Ron Rivera, who rarely attends Pro Days unless they have players his team is VERY high on, was spotted at the Ohio State Pro Day watching Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. Based on those tealeaves, would it be somewhat of a surprise if a WR is not the pick for Washington at 11?
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It’s been two weeks since Eagles GM Howie Roseman shook up the draft with that aforementioned blockbuster trade of draft capital with the Saints. And given Roseman’s trademark for always being willing to wheel and deal his way both up and down the board, he may not be done. Do you think it’s more likely he spends one of his two remaining firsts and one of his two thirds to trade up on draft day, or do you think it’s more likely he trades back from one of those two firsts?
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Looking at the Cowboys roster needs and their pre-draft activity, I think the pick at 24 overall will either be an interior offensive lineman to replace Connor Williams, a WR to help replace Amari Cooper or a defensive end to replace Randy Gregory. Do you see the Cowboys going in any other directions with that pick?
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Giants 3-Round Mock
-(5): Kayvon Thibodeaux
-(7): Sauce Gardner
-(36): Devin Lloyd
-(67): Daniel Faalele
-(81): Darian Kinnard
- Commanders 3-Round Mock
-(11): Drake London
-(47): Breece Hall
- Eagles 3-Round Mock
-(15): Chris Olave
-(18): Devonte Wyatt
-(51): Christian Harris
-(83): Isaiah Likely
-(101): Martin Emerson
- Cowboys 3-Round Mock
-(24): Kenyon Green
-(56): Quay Walker
-(88): Jeremy Ruckert
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As of right now, buzz suggests the Jaguars decision on who to select with that first overall pick will come down to pass rushers Aidan Hutchinson or Travon Walker. But there is a level of risk in selecting either one of them and a big reason why is this: it can be argued that either Evan Neal or Ikem Ekwonu are better than any of the Jaguars OT’s right now and thus Jacksonville might be passing on a GOLDEN opportunity to better protect Trevor Lawrence. So, in your view, is it better for the Jags to upgrade the OT position or juice up the pass rush with either Hutchinson or Walker?
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The Texans enter this draft with eleven total picks (including five in the top-80) and the worst overall roster in the NFL. Thus, they could literally go in any direction with their two first-round picks. But my educated guess is that Nick Caserio and Lovie Smith would ideally love to leave Day 1 of the draft with a new EDGE and OT. So here’s a hypothetical: If the Texans go OT at 3 yet no EDGE they like is available at 13 (and vice versa), what would be the best direction at that pick (CB, WR, other)?
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The Colts biggest moves this spring were shipping Carson Wentz off to Washington and then subsequently trading for Matt Ryan, who I personally believe is a huge upgrade over Wentz. Does the addition of Matt Ryan make the Colts co-favorites (if not favorites) to win the division this season?
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When you look at this Titans roster, they need better OL talent (iOL and OT alike) and more WR/TE depth to help Ryan Tannehill return to his 2019/2020 form. Should the Titans highly consider trading back from 26 in order to give themselves a better shot of addressing those needs in the first two days of the draft?
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Jaguars 3-Round Mock
-(1): Kayvon Thibodeaux
-(33): Tyler Smith
-(65): DeMarvin Leal
-(70): Dylan Parham
- Texans 3-Round Mock
-(3): Evan Neal
-(13): Jermaine Johnson II
-(37): Travis Jones
-(68): Chad Muma
-(80): Jelani Woods
- Colts 3-Round Mock
-(42): Perrion Winfrey
-(73): Calvin Austin III
- Titans 3-Round Mock
-(26): Kenyon Green
-(90): Cade Otton
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If you’re Broncos GM George Paton, do you use the five picks you currently have in the top-150 to move up 10-15 picks in the second round to select a Day 1 difference maker that falls, or do you trade back and accumulate more draft capital, including 2023 picks?
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Are the Chargers, at least on paper, currently the most talented team in the AFC West?
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While the Raiders may have a scary pass rush tandem and arguably the best cache of offensive weapons in the entire NFL, their offensive line and secondary remain troublesome. In addition, some notable writers said that trading for Davante Adams is riskier than many would think. Why would you think that’s the case…aside from punting on the first two rounds of this draft?
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When you look at this Chiefs team right now, arguably the biggest strength on their team outside of Mahomes is their offensive line. Can you see Brett Veach capitalizing on that strength by using this draft to build the Chiefs into more of a physical, “bully ball” team?
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Broncos 3-Round Mock
-(64): Jalen Pitre
-(75): James Cook
-(96): Channing Tindall
- Chargers 3-Round Mock
-(17): Jameson Williams
-(79): Sam Williams
- Raiders 3-Round Mock
-(86): Cole Strange
- Chiefs 3-Round Mock
-(29): Boye Mafe
-(30): Travis Jones
-(50): Roger McCreary
-(62): Kenneth Walker III
-(94): Greg Dulcich
-(103): Velus Jones, Jr.
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This spring, the Jets heavily pursued Chandler Jones in free agency and were one of the two finalists to acquire Tyreek Hill via trade. Thus, many believe the Jets will be targeting an EDGE pass rusher and a WR with their two top-10 picks. However, there is also a lot of buzz that the Jets could be eyeing Sauce Gardner, arguably the best corner in this class, at 4 overall. That said, as valuable as the cornerback position is, only four corners have been top five picks over the past 11 drafts. Why would Sauce Gardner be a great pick for the Jets at that spot?
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After trading for Tyreek Hill, the Dolphins do not pick until 102 overall. But there is a reasonable argument to be made that they’ve quietly built a VERY strong roster on both sides of the ball. On defense, they have an underrated front with Emmanuel Ogbah, Jaelan Phillips and Christian Wilkins and a STACKED secondary with Xavien Howard, Byron Jones and Jevon Holland. On offense, they significantly upgraded the offensive line by signing Terron Armstead and acquiring Tyreek Hill gives them one of the scariest groups of offensive weapons in the entire league with Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Mike Gesicki, Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert. I just can’t find a glaring hole on this Dolphins team outside of the mystery that is Tua Tagovailoa. Can you?
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When it comes to the Patriots, it can be argued that corner and EDGE are their biggest areas of need, but there’s a decent chance the cupboard in terms of value at both positions could be bare when the Patriots are on the clock at 21 overall. Should that be the case, two other directions they could go are at guard after the departures of Ted Karras and Shaq Mason or off-ball linebacker. If both Devin Lloyd and Zion Johnson are available for the Patriots, who would you take and why?
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The Bills will be headed into 2022 as a strong Super Bowl favorite, and the acquisition of Von Miller in free agency could indeed turn out to be the final piece of the puzzle. But there are still some areas of concern on this otherwise strong roster. Buffalo could use another boundary corner to line up opposite Tre’Davious White, and they can use a legitimate lead-dog at running back. I am FAR from the biggest fan of selecting a running back in the first round, but if no corner that’s available meets the value of the 25th overall pick, would Breece Hall be a good pick for the Bills there?
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Jets 3-Round Mock
-(4): Kayvon Thibodeaux
-(10): Drake London
-(35): Jaquan Brisker
-(38): Tyler Smith
-(69): Chad Muma
- Dolphins 3-Round Mock
-(102): Channing Tindall
- Patriots 3-Round Mock
-(21): Jameson Williams
-(54): Roger McCreary
-(85): Cole Strange
- Bills 3-Round Mock
-(25): Kaiir Elam
-(57): Breece Hall
-(89): Alec Pierce
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The defending Super Bowl champion Rams built their championship roster by trading premium draft picks for proven, star talent. They haven’t had a first-round selection since 2016 and will (yet again) only have one pick in the first three rounds this year. And as the saying goes, the NFL is a copycat league, and boy has the Rams strategy been replicated this spring. Star players like Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, Khalil Mack, et al were traded in deals that involved a combined seven first-round picks, the most ever in a single month in the common draft era. Is the Rams “F--- them picks” model the new norm in the NFL?
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There are varying opinions on the current state of the Seahawks roster. Some, myself included, see a bottom-five roster in the NFL. Yet some others see a team like last year’s Broncos, with solid talent across the board yet a gaping hole at QB. What do you think of Seattle’s roster as it currently stands, and if you’re John Schneider and Pete Carroll, what would be the most ideal place on this roster to begin this post-Russell Wilson rebuild?
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Even as Draft Day inches closer, the main headline when it comes to the 49ers does not involve who they will select. It remains the future of Jimmy Garoppolo. After trading this and next year’s first-round picks to move up for Trey Lance, the 49ers seemed set to trade Jimmy G but offseason shoulder surgery immediately sunk his trade market and most, if not all the seats in the 2022 edition of “QB Musical Chairs” have already been filled. While the investment in Lance strongly suggests the Niners should hand him the reins this year, the solution is not as simple as many think. Jimmy Garoppolo is still universally LOVED in that locker room. If the 49ers are unable to trade Jimmy G, should he be their starter in 2022?
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The Arizona Cardinals may have a bit of a dilemma in this draft. On one hand, you have a somewhat disgruntled Pro Bowl QB in Kyler Murray who needs better protection up front (especially on the interior) yet you have a pass rush with a crater-sized hole in it given the departure of Chandler Jones. In the event the board presents equally valid options on both sides, would you prioritize making Kyler Murray happy or filling the void at EDGE?
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Seahawks 3-Round Mock
-(9): Sauce Gardner
-(40): Matt Corral
-(41): Arnold Ebiketie
-(72): Abraham Lucas
- 49ers 3-Round Mock
-(61): Travis Jones
-(93): Cam Taylor-Britt
-(105): Cole Strange
- Cardinals 3-Round Mock
-(23): Zion Johnson
-(55): Logan Hall
-(87): Myjai Sanderd
- Rams 3-Round Mock
-(104): Coby Bryant
- All the latest speculation when it comes to the Panthers suggests they just might take a swing on a QB in the first round. That is not a surprise given that Matt Rhule’s job is on the line plus how aggressive they’ve been in looking for a long-term heir to Cam Newton for nearly two years. But as you know, this 2022 QB class is underwhelming to say the least…and the Panthers only have one pick in the first 135 selections at this time. If the apple of Matt Rhule’s eye is indeed Kenny Pickett (as many have been speculating for months given Rhule’s attempt to recruit Pickett to go to Temple), shouldn’t the Panthers do everything they possible can to trade back a handful of spots and get more picks, especially if the trade-up market for Pickett isn’t robust?
2.By trading away Matt Ryan to the Colts, the Falcons have put themselves squarely in the conversation for having the worst roster in the entire NFL outside of Houston. But they now have five top-100 picks (a first, two seconds, and two thirds) in this deep draft and thus a golden opportunity to lay down a solid foundation for the future. Last year, when they had the fourth overall pick, Falcons GM Terry Fontenot went with the absolute best player on their board in Kyle Pitts, even though Pitts plays a position that is not regarded as one of high value. Should Fontenot follow the same approach in this draft, positional value be damned?
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As of this morning, the Saints had one first-round pick at 18 overall. And just hours before we started recording, they agreed to a BLOCKBUSTER trade of draft picks with the Eagles. Philly dealt picks 16, 19, and 194 to the Saints for picks, 18, 101, and 236 plus a 2023 first-rounder AND a 2024 second-rounder. This gives the Saints three picks in the top 50, including two in the top-20. That means that should the Saints want to move up for a QB, they now have the ammo to do so. However, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller said last week that based on the Saints offseason moves so far, he believes they are prioritizing drafting a left tackle early to replace Terron Armstead rather than a QB. And based on the signings of Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton, this belief makes sense to me. That said, based on what you’re hearing, do you think it’s more likely the Saints make a big move up the board for a QB or LT?
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Since Tom Brady’s un-retirement, the Bucs have loaded the cannons right back up for another Super Bowl run as Ryan Jensen, Carlton Davis and Chris Godwin re-signed. Plus with the Packers losing Davante Adams and the Rams losing Von Miller, they will likely be the consensus favorite to win the NFC headed into the season. In your view, what area of this Bucs roster needs to be addressed the most in this draft in order for Tampa to maintain pole position in the conference?
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Panthers 3-Round Mock
-(6): Charles Cross
- Falcons 3-Round Mock
-(8): Kayvon Thibodeaux
-(43): Nakobe Dean
-(58): Breece Hall
-(74): Trey McBride
-(82): Jalen Tolbert
- Saints 3-Round Mock
-(16): Kenny Pickett
-(19): Jameson Williams
-(49): Bernhard Reimann
-(98): Greg Dulcich
- Bucs 3-Round Mock
-(27): George Karlaftis
-(60): Kenneth Walker III
-(91): Carson Strong
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With Deshaun Watson now in the fold, the Browns arguably have the most complete roster in the entire NFL. Outside of another EDGE opposite Myles Garrett and more WR options aside from Amari Cooper, I don’t see any other glaring holes on this Cleveland team. Do you?
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Almost like the Browns, the Ravens don’t have that many glaring holes on their roster. But there is such a need at the all-important EDGE position, where Baltimore has not had a player reach double-digit sacks in a season since Terrell Suggs in 2017. If no EDGE or pass-rushing DT left on the board meets the value of the 14th overall pick, could you see the Ravens as a strong candidate to trade down?
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The search is on for a long-term successor to Ben Roethlisberger and based on their presence at all these Pro Days, you can tell the Steelers are leaving no rock, stone or pebble unturned when it comes to this QB class. And perhaps the worst kept secret in the entire NFL since the Senior Bowl is their love for Malik Willis. If the Steelers are as madly in love with Malik Willis as they seem to be, should they be willing to trade up to as high as 5 overall in order to get him?
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The Bengals came oh so close to winning their first Super Bowl in franchise history, but their porous offensive line play, especially in the passing game, proved too much for them to overcome in the end. That’s why the Bengals have spent the vast majority of their resources so far this spring on improving Joe Burrow’s protection with Alex Cappa, Ted Karras, and La’El Collins. Have the Bengals upgraded the OL enough to where they can stomach the possible scenario of not drafting another offensive lineman in the first 2-3 rounds?
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Browns 3-Round Mock
-(44): Travis Jones
-(78): Leo Chenal
-(99): Myjai Sanders
- Ravens 3-Round Mock
-(14): Jordan Davis
-(45): Tariq Woolen
-(76): Breece Hall
-(100): DeAngelo Malone
- Steelers 3-Round Mock
-(20): Desmond Ridder
-(52): Tyler Linderbaum
-(84): Cam Taylor-Britt
- Bengals 3-Round Mock
-(31): Devonte Wyatt
-(63): Trey McBride
-(95): Coby Bryant
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When you look at the RB’s in this year’s draft, there may not be 2-3 stars in the first round discussion like last year, but like several other of the position groups we’ve covered on this program in recent weeks, it is exceptionally deep, perhaps much deeper than the 2021 crop of backs. How would you compare the 2022 RB class to last year’s?
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In 2019, the first RB off the board was David Montgomery. Fast forward almost three years later, and another Iowa State Cyclone just might achieve the same feat. I’m obviously talking about Breece Hall. Why is he the best RB in this class?
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Another RB in the conversation for being the best at the position in this draft is Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III, who was being touted as a serious Heisman Trophy candidate last fall. The big question with him, however, seems to be just how much can he bring you in the passing game. Daniel Jeremiah thinks he has a lot of upside in that area, while Joe Marino of The Draft Network believes that upside is very limited. How much do you think Walker is capable of in the passing game (both catching the ball out of the backfield and blitz pickup)?
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Isaiah Spiller of Texas A&M is another RB that should go relatively early. He arguably has the best combination of vision and contact balance out of all the RB’s in the class. However, he has very small hands (8 5/8”), which could make him more “fumble prone” at the NFL level. Does Spiller’s hand size worry you at all?
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Georgia has two intriguing RB’s in this class with James Cook (Dalvin’s younger brother) and Zamir White. Compare/contrast the two and tell us what you think the best role for them is at the NFL level
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Buy Or Sell: Kyren Williams, Tyler Allgeier, Dameon Pierce, Brian Robinson Jr., Hassan Haskins, Pierre Strong Jr., Abram Smith, Kevin Harris, Ty Davis-Price, Rachaad White, Zonovan Knight, Jerome Ford, Tyler Badie, Isaiah Pacheco, Shermari Jones
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Best Possible Landing Spots
-Breece Hall: Texans
-Kenneth Walker III: Bucs
-Isaiah Spiller: Vikings
-James Cook: Cardinals, Broncos
-Zamir White: Saints
-Pierre Strong, Jr.: Chargers
-Rachaad White: Giants
-Brian Robinson, Jr.: Titans
-Jerome Ford: Colts
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In the event that the Jaguars decide to take Aidan Hutchinson with the first overall pick, there are a lot of options for the Lions to consider at pick two. They could go with another great EDGE talent in Travon Walker or Kayvon Thibodeaux, they could opt to take arguably the best overall player in the draft in Kyle Hamilton, they could throw a wild curveball and take Malik Willis, or potentially trade back. What is the latest intel that you’re hearing about the Lions plans with the second overall pick?
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Based on his first acts as Bear GM, it is clear Ryan Poles wants to completely overhaul this roster. That said, the Bears have been relatively quiet in free agency and have pressing needs on both sides of the ball including 2 new OL starters, 2-3 new WR, more CB depth, et al…with only 6 picks to work with at this time. Therein lies the dilemma for Poles and the Bears in this draft. In your view, should Chicago mainly, if not solely use this draft to surround Justin Fields with better protection and weapons, or should they almost equally focus on getting Matt Eberflus the players he needs to run his defense?
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When the Vikings fired both Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman, many believed this was a team headed for a roster shakeup. Turns out, the exact opposite happened with the extension of Kirk Cousins and the signing of Za’Darius Smith in free agency. It is clear that new GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and new HC Kevin O’Connell believe the Vikings still have a roster that’s fully capable of making a deep playoff run. Do you feel that way, and if not, what do the Vikings need to do in this draft to ensure their roster fits that description?
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The Packers were actually a big part in the wildest month of trades in NFL history as they traded Davante Adams to the Raiders for Las Vegas’s first and second round picks this year. That gives Brian Gutekunst four picks to work with in the first two rounds, but the Packers have a pretty bare cupboard of WR’s as of now. Do you think Gutekunst should be behooved to get Aaron Rodgers two WR’s in the first round alone, or do you think the Packers have needs on their roster that are almost equally as pressing?
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Lions 3-Round Mock
-(2): Kyle Hamilton
-(32): Jahan Dotson
-(34): Matt Corral
-(66): Isaiah Likely
-(97): Martin Emerson
- Bears 3-Round Mock
-(39): Skyy Moore
-(48): Travis Jones
-(71): Cole Strange
- Vikings 3-Round Mock
-(12): Jermaine Johnson
-(46): Jalen Pitre
-(77): Channing Tindall
- Packers 3-Round Mock
-(22): Drake London
-(28): Boye Mafe
-(53): George Pickens
-(59): Leo Chenal
-(92): Jeremy Ruckert
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At this time, many, including you, consider Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson as the best wide receiver in this class. Why should Garrett Wilson be the first WR off the board on April 28?
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Like most positions in this class, there isn’t a consensus league-wide as to who the best WR in this class is. And the WR1 for Mel Kiper at the moment is Drake London of USC. How good is the argument for Drake London to be the first WR off the board?
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What does Chris Olave bring to an NFL offense on Day 1 that his fellow Buckeye Garrett Wilson does not?
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Not long ago, some on Draft Twitter were hyping up Arkansas’s Treylon Burks as the top wide out in this draft. However, he really underwhelmed at the Combine and he could be in for a slide down the board. How far can you see Burks falling?
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Is Jameson Williams still worth a top-20 pick if the long-term prognosis on his knee is as good as buzz indicates?
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Two WR’s who have seen their stock soar into first-round conversation are Skyy Moore of Western Michigan and Christian Watson of North Dakota State. Which one of those two are you personally more bullish on and why? Do you see one or both of them going in round one?
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According to Dane Brugler, there seems to be a 50/50 split over whether Trey McBride (Colorado State) or Greg Dulcich (UCLA) is the top TE in this class. Which one is more deserving of that distinction in your view?
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Buy Or Sell: Jalen Tolbert, Jahan Dotson, George Pickens, John Metchie, Khalil Shakir, David Bell, Cade Otton, Jeremy Ruckert, Charlie Kolar, Isaiah Likely, Jelani Woods, Cole Turner
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Best Possible Landing Spots
-Garrett Wilson: Falcons, Jets, Commanders, Texans, Saints
-Drake London: Patriots, Jets
-Chris Olave: Packers
-Treylon Burks: Dolphins, Ravens
-Jameson Williams: Chargers, Chiefs, Packers, Bills
-Skyy Moore: Browns
-Christian Watson: Chiefs
-Trey McBride: Titans
-Greg Dulcich: Cowboys
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Many consider Utah’s Devin Lloyd as the best off-ball LB in this class. Just weeks ago, many mock drafts had him as a top-10 pick. That said, since he didn’t test as well as hoped at the Combine, he could very well experience a fall on draft day. How does he compare with recent players at his position who went in the top 10 (Roquan Smith, Devin White) and if he does fall, how far can you see him falling?
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Another off-ball LB prospect that many see as the best in the class is Nakobe Dean of Georgia. Now, some buzz suggests he could fall all the way to Day 2 given concerns about whether his physical play-style can hold up at his relatively petit size (229 pounds). Moreover, some are of the opinion that one or both of his fellow Bulldogs in this class (Quay Walker and Channing Tindall) may be as good or better options. In what order do you have these three Georgia ‘backers ranked on your board at this time, and why?
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Just two years ago, the Bengals selected a LB from Wyoming in Logan Wilson who has already grown into a core piece of their defense. This year, Wyoming is sending an arguably better LB prospect to the NFL in Chad Muma. Muma was a tackling machine for the Cowboys (11.3 tackles per game over the past two seasons) and posted some special numbers at the Combine (40” vertical jump and 129” broad jump). How does Muma compare/contrast with Logan Wilson as a prospect and can you see him carving out a similar role for himself as his fellow Wyoming Cowboy within the next two seasons?
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A prospect that could very well be rising up boards across the league after posting some super freakish results at both the Combine and his Pro Day is Wisconsin’s Leo Chenal. Aside from a 40.5” vertical and a 128” broad jump in Indy, he posted an ASTONISHING 6.84s three-cone drill. Moreover, according to data analyst/statistician Kent Lee Platte, Chenal’s Relative Athletic Score ranked fourth out of 2,188 LB dating back all the way to 1987. Does the tape match the traits for Leo Chenal in your view, and how early can you see him hearing his name called?
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As ESPN’s Jordan Reid and others reported at the Combine, a LB that the NFL is apparently much higher on than those in draft media is LSU’s Damone Clark. Based on what you have seen of him, why do you think that is?
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Buy Or Sell: Christian Harris, Jesse Luketa, Malcolm Rodriguez, Darrian Beavers, Brandon Smith, Zakoby McClain, Brian Asamoah, Aaron Hansford
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Best Landing Spots:
-Devin Lloyd: Falcons
-Nakobe Dean: Bears, Steelers, Seahawks
-Quay Walker: AFC West or NFC West
-Chad Muma: Broncos
-Leo Chenal: Colts
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As of right now, the #1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft is widely expected to be Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson. And there is A LOT to like about him including his non-stop motor and freakish athleticism, which was illustrated by his 6.73-second three-cone drill at the Combine. However, one knock on him is his less-than-ideal, 32 and 1/8 “ arm length. The amount of pass rushers with arms that short who have found success in the NFL is very small. If you were GM of the Jaguars, assuming your OL needs are taken care of, would Hutchinson’s arm-length alone be enough for you to pass on him?
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The best performer at the Combine, at least in my opinion, was Georgia’s Travon Walker. He ran a 4.51 40 and posted a 6.89-second three-cone at 272 pounds, and became a lock top-five pick. While they say you must bet on traits when it comes to EDGE rushers (and Walker has them in spades), there is one stat that has me a bit concerned about him. As Marcus Mosher pointed out, Travon Walker only averaged 0.58 TFL per game at Georgia and the hit rate for EDGE players who average less than 0.80 TFL/game in college is astonishingly low. That said, you countered by saying it was mainly due to how he was utilized in that Georgia defense. Are the stars aligned for Travon Walker to buck this trend?
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Is there anything on tape that justifies the concerns about Kayvon Thibodeaux’s supposed lack of passion and love for the game?
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An NFC scout told NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein that he thinks David Ojabo will have a more productive NFL career than his Michigan teammate Aidan Hutchinson. Would you be shocked or surprised if this eventually becomes the case?
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Last year, Odafe Oweh was a first-round pick almost solely because of raw athletic traits. We could get an identical situation this year in Minnesota’s Boye Mafe, who posted a 41.5” vertical at his Pro Day this week. Just how high is the ceiling for Mafe and is he worth a top-20 pick in your view?
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Despite his lack of length and athleticism, is George Karlaftis still worth a first-round pick?
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Buy or Sell: Jermaine Johnson, Logan Hall, Arnold Ebiketie, Nik Bonitto, Sam Williams, Dominique Robinson, Joshua Paschal, Cameron Thomas, Myjai Sanders, Alex Wright
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Best Landing Spots:
-Aidan Hutchinson: Jaguars, Lions
-Travon Walker: Seahawks, Giants
-Kayvon Thibodeaux: Seahawks
-David Ojabo: Chargers, Eagles, Cowboys, Cardinals
-Boye Mafe: Chiefs
-George Karlaftis: Lions
-Jermaine Johnson: Vikings
-Logan Hall: Ravens
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The DT prospect that stole the show at The Combine was Georgia’s Jordan Davis. He ran 4.78 in the 40 at 341 pounds and reminds some of another freakish athletic NT who’s had a successful NFL career thus far in Vita Vea of the Bucs. However, several still have questions about Davis’s ability to play far more than 50% of the snaps and others question whether he brings enough as a pass rusher. In addition, several like his Georgia teammate Devonte Wyatt even more. If you were running a team that had every need possible on the DL and your choice in the draft came down to Davis and Wyatt, who would you pick and why?
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Another DT prospect that has been rising up boards this past month or so is Travis Jones of UConn. He absolutely tore it up down in Mobile at the Senior Bowl and followed it up with another good performance at the Combine. Dane Brugler believes he is a lock to go top-50 and could even sneak into the first round. In your view, is Travis Jones worth the gamble in the top-50, if not in the tail end of the first?
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Last spring and summer, Texas A&M’s DeMarvin Leal was touted by some as a potential top-10 pick. Now, many (if not most) expect him to go on Day 2. What is your opinion on Leal’s game and just how big of a steal can he turn out to be for whoever drafts him?
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One of the more fascinating prospects in this class is Logan Hall of Houston. He mostly played DT in college, but several, including Dane Brugler, believe he projects better at EDGE. Do you think Logan Hall’s best role in the NFL is inside, outside on the edge, or a bit of both?
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Thoughts on Cameron Thomas
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Another DT prospect that had a very good week at the Senior Bowl is Oklahoma’s Perrion Winfrey, who was MVP of the game. Before free agency, several in Bears Draft Twitter were touting him as an option with one of their two second-round picks. Do you see Winfrey as an ideal prospect for teams that urgently need a penetrating 3-technique for their defense?
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Buy or Sell: Phidarian Mathis [Bama], Matthew Butler [Tennessee], Neil Farrell [LSU], John Ridgeway [Arkansas], Eyioma Uwazurike [Iowa State], Kalia Davis [UCF], Haskell Garrett [Ohio State]
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Best Landing Spots:
-Jordan Davis: Patriots
-Devonte Wyatt: Raiders
-Travis Jones: Browns
-DeMarvin Leal: Jets, Giants
-Logan Hall: Steelers
-Cameron Thomas: Bengals, Broncos
-Perrion Winfrey: Bears, Vikings
-Phidarian Mathis: Cardinals
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Headed into the Combine, it was a mystery as to who would be the first corner off the board. But now, we just might have clarity. Cincinnati’s Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, who is the long, tall corner most teams covet, and never allowed a TD in college absolutely stole the show in Indy. He reportedly aced interviews (he’s widely regarded as a high-character guy) and shined in athletic testing where he ran a 4.41 40. Do you think it’s a virtual certainty that Sauce Gardner will be the first corner taken…and does he deserve to be?
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One of the bigger wild cards in this draft is LSU’s Derek Stingley, Jr. Stingley had one very bad year in college, one injury-plagued year, and a first team All-America year. If that first team All America year was 2021, he would likely be the first corner taken off the board. Unfortunately, that season was his freshman year in 2019. And as Thor Nystrom said on this program weeks ago, the number of college players that were only great as freshmen in college yet subsequently became very good NFL players is very small. How high are you on Stingley and do you think he can replicate the 2019 version of himself at the NFL level?
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Before last week’s events in Indy, some, including Dane Brugler, believed Washington’s Trent McDuffie could end up as the top corner in this class. McDuffie is versatile, tough and athletic. That said, he has sub-30” arms and the amount of corners with that length that have found success at the NFL level is VERY minute. That said, CBS NFL Draft analyst Chris Trapasso brought up a good point by saying that corners coming into the league aren’t as long and tall as they were a decade or so ago and if size/length is sacrificed for agility at the CB position, it is fine given where the game is headed. Do you share that view and do you still believe McDuffie can buck that troubling trend? How far can you see McDuffie falling because of that non-ideal length?
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Arguably the best player in this draft class regardless of position is Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton. That said, many people do not believe you should draft a safety that high. Nonetheless, there’s no denying his talent and the leadership he’d bring to a team on Day 1. Do you think he has a strong case to be a top-five pick?
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S/CB hybrids are more in demand than ever before in the NFL. And this draft offers two such prospects in Michigan’s Daxton Hill and Baylor’s Jalen Pitre. That said, as important as versatility is, you have to give these players a clearly defined role their rookie season so they’re not mentally swimming in the playbook so to speak. What is the best such role for each of these players next season and beyond?
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Another guy that is likely rising up draft boards after the Combine is Georgia’s Lewis Cine. He absolutely tore it up in testing (4.37 in the 40, 36.5” vertical, and 133” broad jump). Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy tweeted out that several teams had first-round grades on him BEFORE the Combine. Would you be surprised if he hears his name called on Day 1?
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Buy Or Sell: Andrew Booth, Jr., Kaiir Elam, Kyler Gordon, Marcus Jones, Coby Bryant, Roger McCreary, Tariq Woolen, Jaquan Brisker, Bryan Cook, Nick Cross, Verone McKinley III
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Best Landing Spots:
-Sauce Gardner: Jets, Vikings
-Derek Stingley, Jr.: Ravens
-Trent McDuffie: Eagles, Vikings
-Andrew Booth, Jr.: Bills, Chiefs
-Kyle Hamilton: Falcons
-Daxton Hill: Lions, Chiefs
-Jalen Pitre: Seahawks
-Jaquan Brisker: Lions, Jets
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Yesterday, one of the largest trades in NFL history went down as the Seahawks agreed to trade Russell Wilson to the Broncos for two firsts, two seconds, Drew Lock, Shelby Harris and Noah Fant. What are your overall thoughts on this trade? Does Russ alone make the Broncos a serious contender for a deep playoff run? How ideal is the fit for Russell Wilson in Nathaniel Hackett’s offense? Do you think Aaron Rodgers decision to remain in the NFC North can be beneficial to the long-term development of Justin Fields?
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Why is Malik Willis your top-rated QB in this class at this time? What is his best attribute and what is his biggest, potentially fatal flaw?
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How much should Kenny Pickett’s 8.5” hand size matter?
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Just how difficult is it to project Matt Corral to an NFL offense? How high is his athletic ceiling compared to that of Andy Dalton and Baker Mayfield?
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In your most recent mock draft, you had the Steelers selecting Desmond Ridder at 20. Aside from sheer QB desperation, why do you think a team would believe Ridder is worth a first-round investment?
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If the over/under of QB’s selected in the first round this year is at 3, would you take the over or under and why?
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Buy Or Sell: Carson Strong, Sam Howell, Kaleb Eleby, Bailey Zappe, Jack Coan
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Best Landing Spots:
-Malik Willis: Commanders
-Kenny Pickett: Saints
-Matt Corral: Steelers
-Desmond Ridder: Titans, Falcons
-Sam Howell: Browns, Saints, Panthers
-Carson Strong: Bucs
-Kaleb Eleby: Broncos
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If you were in the Jaguars war room, and the debate was between whether to draft Evan Neal or Ickey Ekwonu, who would you pound the table for and why?
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Another hot OT prospect expected to go pretty early is Charles Cross of Mississippi State. Renown NFL Draft guru Dane Brugler of The Athletic said that NFL evaluators are torn on Cross. Some see him as a top-15 pick because of his special pass protection skills, yet others see him as an Andre Dillard-level bust in waiting due to his lack of ideal power. That said, word has it the Panthers are considering taking him at 6 overall. What is your opinion on Charles Cross and is he worth a top-10 pick?
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Charles Cross isn’t the only non-Neal/Ekwonu OT prospect receiving top-10 buzz coming out of Indy. Trevor Penning of Northern Iowa also reportedly has heavy interest from the Panthers as well. While his physical, “pissed off” playing style may be endearing to several teams, it is pretty clear that he is currently as raw as sushi so to speak. What specific details in Penning’s game need the most work and do you think all his flaws are correctable?
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It isn’t quite common to have a center that is considered by many as a top-10 prospect in a draft, but this is such a year given the presence of Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum in this class. That said, a few knocks on Linderbaum is that he doesn’t have expeing him off their board due to that lack of length?rience at guard and his incredibly short arm-length even for a center. Do you consider Linderbaum a top-10/top-15 talent?
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Four other winners at the Combine were Abraham Lucas of Washington State, Zion Johnson of Boston College, Zach Tom of Wake Forest and Kellen Diesch of Arizona State. What aspects on their respective game films, if any, suggest long-term starter to you?
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Buy Or Sell: Bernhard Reimann, Kenyon Green, Darian Kinnard, Jamaree Salyer, Max Mitchell, Dylan Parham, Tyler Smith, Sean Rhyan, Thayer Munford, Jr., Nicholas Petit-Frere
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Best Landing Spots:
-Evan Neal: Jaguars
-Ikem Ekwonu: Jets, Giants
-Charles Cross: Chiefs
-Trevor Penning: Eagles
-Tyler Linderbaum: Lions, Giants, Jets, Seahawks
-Kenyon Green: Cowboys, Bucs
-Bernhard Reimann: Patriots
-Abraham Lucas: Chiefs, Raiders
-Zion Johnson: Bengals, Panthers, Browns
-Kellen Diesch: Vikings, Rams
-Zach Tom: Patriots, Rams, Bengals, Cowboys
- Super Bowl LVI Takeaways
-DKrom: In a battle of fatal flaws (Bengals pass protection vs. Rams bare cupboard of pass catchers), the former won
-Hal: Heartbreak for the Bengals, great players like Aaron Donald shined in the biggest moment
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If Aaron Donald actually DID retire after the Super Bowl, would he be a locked in as a first ballot hall of famer?
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Tag or No Tag
-Davante Adams: TAG
-Orlando Brown, Jr.: TAG
-Chris Godwin: NO TAG
-Mike Williams: TAG
-Chandler Jones: NO TAG
-Jessie Bates: TAG
-Tyrann Mathieu: NO TAG
-Harold Landry: TAG
- QB CAROUSEL (Best landing spots for QB’s)
-Jimmy Garoppolo: Colts
-Deshaun Watson: Bucs, Steelers
-Mitchell Trubisky: Commanders, Panthers, Saints
-Jameis Winston: Saints
-Marcus Mariota: Broncos, Panthers
-Carson Wentz: Giants (as backup)
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Were the Cardinals right or wrong to extend the contracts of Kliff Kingsbury and GM Steve Keim through 2027?
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Cowboys weapons: Better to keep Cooper or let him go and re-sign Gallup and tag Dalton Schultz?
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Top-10 Mock Draft
-Jaguars: Ickey Ekwonu
-Lions: Aidan Hutchinson
-Texans: Evan Neal
-Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux
-Giants: Kyle Hamilton
-Panthers: Sauce Gardner
-Giants [via Bears]: Travon Walker
-Falcons: Garrett Wilson
-Steelers [via Broncos]: Malik Willis
-Jets [via Seahawks]: Kenyon Green
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Why is Malik Willis your top-rated QB in this class?
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Why do you think the NFL is apparently not as high on Kayvon Thibodeaux as we thought they’d be?
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EDGE is arguably the deepest position group in this draft. After Thibodeaux and Aidan Hutchinson, who are your personal favorite EDGE’s in this class and why?
4. Another deep position group in this class is cornerback. For most of last fall, most thought Derek Stingley, Jr. of LSU would easily be the first corner off the board. Now, that is FAR from certain given the two underwhelming seasons Stingley had since his All-America freshman season in 2019. In your view, what other corners in this class have a solid case to be the first at the position off the board come April 28?
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Outside of EDGE and CB, what other position groups in this class stand out to you depth-wise?
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Who helped themselves the most at the Senior Bowl? Who hurt themselves the most?
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Who has the most to gain at the Combine? Who has the most to lose?
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Top-10 Mock
-Jaguars: Evan Neal
-Lions: Malik Willis
-Texans: Kyle Hamilton
-Jets: Aidan Hutchinson
-Giants: Ikem Ekwonu
-Panthers: Kayvon Thibodeaux
-Giants (from Bears): David Ojabo
-Falcons: Treylon Burks
-Broncos: George Karlaftis
-Jets (from Seahawks): Sauce Gardner
- Conference Championship Takeaways
-DKrom: Bengals making it to the Super Bowl a fitting conclusion of the most unpredictable NFL season in recent memory…and OT rules are fine!!!
-Hal: The end of the Jimmy Garoppolo era in San Francisco (third time Kyle Shanahan has blown a double-digit lead in the playoffs), Chiefs offense with an uncharacteristic performance
- Coaching Carousel (Grading The Hires)
-Giants: Brian Daboll
-Raiders: Josh McDaniels/Dave Ziegler
-Vikings: Kevin O’Connell
-Jaguars: Doug Pederson
-Dolphins: Mike McDaniel
-Texans: Lovie Smith
-Saints: Dennis Allen
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022
-DKrom’s Picks: DeMarcus Ware, Devin Hester, Tony Boselli, Richard Seymour, Reggie Wayne
-Hal’s Picks: DeMarcus Ware, Devin Hester, Richard Seymour, Bryant Young, Jared Allen
- Super Bowl LVI Preview
-Is it right or wrong for Zac Taylor to tell the Bengals that they are not underdogs?
-Is this THE best chance for the Rams to win a Super Bowl in the Sean McVay era?
-Rams Biggest X Factor (DKrom: Andrew Whitworth, Hal: Odell Beckham, Jr.)
-Bengals Biggest X Factor (DKrom: Joe Mixon, Hal: Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins)
-Key matchups and picks
- Bold Predictions
-DKrom: Evan McPherson (aka “Evan McFEARLESS”) wins the Super Bowl on a last-second, all-time record tying 66-yard FG!!!
-Hal: Joe Mixon, three second-half TD’s, 200 total yards from scrimmage and gets Super Bowl LVI MVP honors
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Bengals, do NOT be too predictable on offense by always running the ball on first down. You only risk putting yourself in less advantageous down-and-distance situations on third down, which will make Von Miller and Aaron Donald SALIVATE
-Hal: Roger Goodell…LISTEN to Brian Flores, do a real investigation of Washington, and come clean on Deflategate!!!!
Steelers beat reporter Dale Lolley (DK Pittsburgh Sports) joined me at the Senior Bowl to discuss how he thinks the Steelers will try to find a long-term replacement for Ben Roethlisberger these next few months, the other areas of concern they must address via the draft and why he believes a certain offensive playmaker will be getting a contract extension to stay in Pittsburgh
Bills beat writer Mark Gaughan (Buffalo News) joined me at the Senior Bowl to discuss what he believes the Bills should do in the draft, why they were able to retain QB coach Ken Dorsey and promote him to offensive coordinator, and which young players still on rookie deals are likely to receive contract extensions
Eagles beat reporter Mike Kaye (NJ Advance Media) joined me at the Senior Bowl to discuss why the Eagles would go all in to acquire Russell Wilson if he becomes available via trade, the team's plans for free agency and the draft, Jason Kelce's future and his potential successor...and more
Broncos beat reporter Brandon Krisztal (850 KOA Radio) joined me at the Senior Bowl to share his thoughts on what the Broncos could do with the #9 overall pick in the draft (assuming Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson do not come to Denver), the hiring of Nathaniel Hackett as head coach, the sale of the team, and which young players may receive contract extensions at some point this year
Colts beat writer Stephen Holder (The Athletic) joined me at the Senior Bowl to share how he thinks the Colts will try their hardest to upgrade the QB position this offseason, how different the defense will be with the departure of Matt Eberflus (and what kind of guy the Bears are getting in him), positions of need the Colts should address in the draft (there aren't many outside of QB), and whether Quenton Nelson will receive a contract extension before September
I caught up with NFL Draft analyst Chris Burke (The Athletic) at the Senior Bowl. He discussed who stood out (in a good way) on the first day of practices, gave his opinion on what the Jaguars should do with the first pick in the draft, and provided a brief compare/contrast on the top-two OT prospects in the class, Evan Neal and Ikem Ekwonu
Bears beat writer Patrick Finley (Chicago Sun-Times) joined me at the Senior Bowl to share his thoughts on the Bears hiring Ryan Poles as GM and Matt Eberflus as head coach, the scheme new OC Luke Getsy is bringing with him and why it suits Justin Fields well, the top priorities for the Bears to address in free agency and the draft, and whether the Bears are the team to beat in the NFC North IF Aaron Rodgers leaves Green Bay
OT Max Mitchell (Lousiana-Lafayette) is one of the hottest OT prospects at the Senior Bowl (currently #50 on Daniel Jeremiah's 2022 NFL Draft Top 50 list). He told me what he thinks sets him apart from the rest of the OT's in this year's draft, whether he likes to run block or pass protect more, what NFL OT's he admires most, and how much he's leaning on his fellow Rajin Cajun (and current 49ers RB) Elijah Mitchell during the pre-draft process
USA Today NFL columnist Mike Jones joined me at the Senior Bowl to give me his thoughts on the NFL head coaching hires so far this cycle, Brian Flores' bombshell lawsuit against the NFL and its potential implications for future minority HC candidates, his guess on how many QB's will get selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and why he thinks the Rams win Super Bowl LVI
NFL and Lions beat reporter Dave Birkett (Detroit Free Press) joined me at the Senior Bowl to discuss the Lions top priorities in the 2022 NFL Draft, what comes next for their exciting 2021 draft class, the team's plans at QB for 2022 and whether the candidacy of Devin Hester for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 could speed up the process for getting specialists enshrined in Canton
Bucs beat reporter Jon Ledyard (Pewter Report) joined me at the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl to discuss the retirement of Tom Brady, who will likely succeed him at QB in Tampa next season, which of the Bucs' impending free agents are likely to stay or go, and what their plans should be for the draft
Billy Riccette (USA Today Bengals Wire) joined me to discuss which players he has his eyes on the most at the Senior Bowl, give an overall sumary of the 2022 NFL Draft class, and provide his thoughts on the Bengals and their chances in Super Bowl LVI
Dolphins beat reporters Joe Schad (Palm Beach Post) and David Furones (South Florida Sun-Sentinel) joined me at the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl to give me the latest on the Dolphins head coaching search and how the team should approach the 2022 NFL Draft
ESPN Falcons reporter Michael Rothstein joined us at the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl to discuss what direction the Falcons could go in the 2022 NFL Draft, the team's salary cap situation, Matt Ryan and the future of the team at QB
During my week at the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL, ESPN Jets reporter Rich Cimini joined me to discuss the Jets plans in the 2022 NFL Draft, the main goals HC Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas have for the week, and the team's backup QB situation
- Divisional Round Takeaways
-DKrom: We might have seen the last of Tom Brady
-Hal: Next generation of QB’s shine (Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes)
- Should the NFL change its OT rules, and if so how?
-Case for: Of 11 playoff OT games since the current rules were instituted, 10/11 teams that won won the coin toss…and SEVEN of them scored a TD on the opening drive of OT
-Case against: Of 163 games since the current rules were instituted (playoffs included), teams that won the coin toss have only won 52.8% of the time
- Truth or Exaggeration
-Sean Payton will be a serious candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame when all is set and done
-Sean Payton will be coaching the Cowboys in 2023
-Dennis Allen will be the next head coach of the New Orleans Saints
-Of the four remaining teams, the Chiefs are the clear favorite to win the Super Bowl
-Regardless of what happens the rest of the way, the 49ers should keep Jimmy Garoppolo in 2022 and let him and Trey Lance battle it out for the starting job in training camp
-DeMeco Ryans will be a head coach in 2022
-The Broncos hiring of Nathaniel Hackett makes it even more likely that Aaron Rodgers is a Denver Bronco in 2022
- Coaching Carousel
-Grading the hires (A, B, C, D): Broncos [Nathaniel Hackett], Bears [Ryan Poles, Matt Eberflus], Giants [Joe Schoen], Vikings [Kwesi Adofo-Mensah]
-Jaguars Developments
-Raiders Developments
- AFC Championship Preview (Bengals at Chiefs)
-What do the Bengals have that the Bills do not that will help them pull off the upset?
-Some people said earlier in the season that the NFL had “solved” Patrick Mahomes with the two-high safety looks. And NO team played more of that type of coverage against the Chiefs than the Bills…and you saw the historic performance Mahomes had against them on Sunday. How has Mahomes adjusted so well to this look over the past several months?
-Key matchups and picks
- NFC Championship Preview (49ers at Rams)
-Will this game almost entirely depend on which version of Matthew Stafford (and Jimmy Garoppolo for that matter) shows up?
-The old adage is that it’s hard to beat a team three times in one season, yet the 49ers have won six straight against the Rams. Why do they seemingly have the Rams number?
-Key matchups and picks
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: Mike Hilton picks off Patrick Mahomes in OT to set up a game-winning 10-yard TD run by Joe Burrow
-DKrom: 49ers defense holds the Rams to less than 250 total yards of offense, force FIVE turnovers, including two RZ turnovers, one of which is returned by Fred Warner for a pick-six with less than 2:00 left and the 49ers up 20-17 to seal a 27-17 win!!!
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Bengals…play like you’re proud of the season you’ve had and the bright future that awaits you
-Hal: The four divisional round losers (Bills-get a strong draft, Packers-make Rodgers happy, Bucs-get Brady back in 2022, Titans-get more offensive playmakers)
- Week 18 Takeaways
-DKrom: Colts lay an egg at the worst possible time
-Hal: Colts live and die by Carson Wentz, Chargers “Charger” again
- Truth or Exaggeration
-Of the three current GM openings, the Bears are the most attractive position because of Justin Fields
-The winner of Monday night’s Cardinals/Rams Wild Card playoff will lose in the Divisional Round
-The Vikings should make history and hire Eagles VP of Player Personnel Catherine Raiche as their new GM if her qualifications match those of the top male candidates for the job
-The Lions will win 6-7 games in 2022
-The 49ers and Raiders are the teams that NOBODY wants to face in the playoffs
-Long-term, the Chargers will regret hiring Brandon Staley over Brian Daboll
-The New York Giants are currently the worst team in the NFL
- Coaching Carousel
-Do you think it would it be a colossal mistake for the Bears to hire Leslie Frazier over Brian Daboll given the presence of Justin Fields?
-There appear to be two front-runners for the Broncos HC vacancy, Dan Quinn and Nathaniel Hackett. Which of them would be the better hire and why?
-If the Giants lose out on Brian Flores to the Texans, should Don "Wink" Martindale be their immediate Plan B?
-Will the Dolphins regret firing Brian Flores in the long-run? Which of these candidates would make the most sense to succeed him as the next Dolphins HC: Leslie Frazier, Dan Quinn, or Vance Joseph?
-If the Jaguars hire Bill O’Brien as their next head coach, should Trevor Lawrence do all he can to force a trade?
-Who would be the ideal outside-the-box HC hire for Minnesota?
-Did the Texans make a mistake by firing David Culley after just one season? Does it seem inevitable the Texans will hire Brian Flores given his long history with Nick Caserio?
-Do you think Jim Harbaugh presents enough of an upgrade for the Raiders to go that direction instead of giving the job to Rich Bisaccia?
- Wild Card Weekend Previews and Picks
-Raiders at Bengals
-Patriots at Bills
-Eagles at Bucs
-49ers at Cowboys
-Steelers at Chiefs
-Cardinals at Rams
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: Deebo Samuel 4 TD (3 receiving, 1 rushing), almost 300 total yards from scrimmage
-DKrom: Maxx Crosby totals 4 sacks, including a game-deciding strip-sack which is run in for a 76 yard scoop-and-score by Nate Hobbs, who also holds Ja’Marr Chase to 1 reception for 2 yards
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Cowboys…MATCH THE 49ERS PHYSICALITY!!!!
-Hal: Mike Tomlin, be proud of what you accomplished this season and make it a competitive game in Kansas City
- Week 17 Takeaways
-DKrom: Cardinals with HUGE win after we wrote them off, Bengals with biggest statement win of the season
-Hal: Antonio Brown needs help, his release could affect Bucs Super Bowl chances, Las Vegas Raiders stay alive against all the odds
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Final Awards
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Truth or Exaggeration
-If they take care of business against the Texans this week, plus considering the likely return of Derrick Henry, the Titans should be considered the favorites in the AFC
-The Browns should do all they can to trade Baker Mayfield to a QB-desperate team in the offseason, and accumulate assets by trading down in the draft to position themselves for a top QB prospect in the 2023 draft
-Patrick Surtain II is already a top-10 cornerback in the NFL
-The injury to Chris Godwin and the looming departure of Antonio Brown will be too much for the Bucs offense to overcome in the playoffs
-The Green Bay Packers should be the favorite to win Super Bowl LVI
-Unless Matthew Stafford dramatically improves his game these next two weeks, the Rams will be one-and-done in the playoffs
-If he becomes HC of the Raiders, Jim Harbaugh will win a Super Bowl in a second stint as an NFL head coach
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Chargers at Raiders Preview
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Picks for all other Week 18 Games
-Chiefs at Broncos
-Cowboys at Eagles
-Bengals at Browns
-Packers at Lions
-Bears at Vikings
-Washington at Giants
-Colts at Jaguars
-Steelers at Ravens
-Titans at Texans
-Saints at Falcons
-Jets at Bills
-49ers at Rams
-Patriots at Dolphins
-Seahawks at Cardinals
-Panthers at Buccaneers
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: Rashaad Penny 200 yards rushing and 4 TD
-DKrom: Chiefs will score 70 points against the Broncos
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Packers…at some point, PULL YOUR STARTERS
-Hal: Last place teams, don’t give up hope headed into next season
- Week 16 Takeaways
-DKrom: It was a crazy journey to get there, but the Chiefs and Bills appear to be the two best teams in the AFC after all, Josh Allen putting himself in elite company, Houston Texans have been a MUCH better team than most of us thought
-Hal: Hal is completely off the Cardinals bandwagon, Chargers still doing Charger things
- Truth or Exaggeration
-The Houston Texans should not spend a premium draft pick on a QB and give Davis Mills a full-year tryout in 2022
-Joe Burrow has cemented himself as a top-10 QB in the NFL
-If the Dolphins make the playoffs, Brian Flores is the 2021 NFL Coach of the Year
-Regardless of how their season ends, the 49ers must make Trey Lance the full-time starter in 2022
-The Jaguars hiring Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett as their new head coach would be a very wise move
-If he doesn’t retire, Aaron Rodgers will play for the Packers in 2022
-After two seasons, the Carolina Panthers should pull the plug on Matt Rhule
- This or That
-Who had the bigger impact on the game of football: John Madden or Vince Lombardi?
-Assuming they get the NFC’s #1 seed, which team should the Packers fear more: Cowboys or Bucs?
-Which non-Chiefs AFC West team is more likely to make the playoffs: Chargers or Raiders?
-Who was the bigger Pro Bowl snub: Roquan Smith or Creed Humphrey?
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Chiefs at Bengals Preview
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Picks for all other Week 17 Games
-Falcons at Bills
-Giants at Bears
-Dolphins at Titans
-Raiders at Colts
-Jaguars at Patriots
-Bucs at Jets
-Eagles at Washington
-Rams at Ravens
-Broncos at Chargers
-Cardinals at Cowboys
-Panthers at Saints
-Lions at Seahawks
-Vikings at Packers
-Browns at Steelers
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: Jonathan Taylor 274 yards rushing and 4 TD in win over Raiders
-DKrom: Steelers win thanks to 5 INT off of Baker Mayfield, including two pick-sixes (one by Joe Haden, the other by Joe Schobert, both former Browns)
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Packers…DON’T TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS!!!
-Hal: Big Ben…go out like a champion!!!
- Week 15 Takeaways
-DKrom: Mahomes vs. Herbert delivers again, Bucs may have an even tougher road to return to the Super Bowl, Dennis Allen and Greg Roman will likely get serious head coaching consideration
-Hal: Division leaders lose a lot of games, tight races down the stretch
- Truth or Exaggeration
-Should they make the playoffs, the Indianapolis Colts will be the team that NOBODY wants to play
-Should they get the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars should HIGHLY consider drafting whoever the best OT is on their board (Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu)
-Whoever wins Sunday’s Ravens/Bengals game will win the AFC North
-If Russell Wilson is made available by the Seahawks for trade, teams interested in trading for him MUST do a LOT of vetting on his mallet finger and potential complications it could cause for the remainder of his career
-The Los Angeles Rams will win the NFC West
-Nick Sirianni should be in consideration for Coach of the Year honors if the Eagles make the playoffs
-Nick Bosa is now the frontrunner for 2021 Comeback Player of the Year
- Christmas wishes (New head coach, GM and/or QB)
-Bears: Brian Daboll, Ed Dodds
-Broncos: Leslie Frazier, Aaron Rodgers
-Raiders: Vance Joseph
-Jaguars: Byron Leftwich
- Ravens at Bengals Preview
-Regardless of who is starting at QB for the Ravens this week, how much tougher of a challenge is the Bengals defense compared to the Packers defense?
-True or False…if the Ravens pass rush can’t get to Joe Burrow, the Bengals will win in another blowout
-Key matchups and picks
- Picks for all other Week 16 Games
-49ers at Titans
-Browns at Packers
-Colts at Cardinals
-Lions at Falcons
-Rams at Vikings
-Bills at Patriots
-Jaguars at Jets
-Giants at Eagles
-Bucs at Panthers
-Chargers at Texans
-Bears at Seahawks
-Steelers at Chiefs
-Broncos at Raiders
-Washington at Cowboys
-Dolphins at Saints
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: Both Bears and Seahawks turn the ball over twice in OT…leading to a tie
-DKrom: Jonathan Taylor totals over 300 yards from scrimmage (150 rushing, 150 receiving) and 3 TD including the game winner on 4th and Goal from the 1 at the gun
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Cardinals…MATCH THE COLTS PHYSICALITY!!!!!
-Hal: Dolphins, Eagles, Colts…GO NUTS!!!!!
- Week 14 Takeaways
-DKrom: Poetic day for the Broncos, particularly the 88-yard drive at the end of the game
-Hal: Bills not dead and buried yet, Brady and Rodgers co-MVP favorites right now
- Truth or Exaggeration
-The NFL MUST put all 32 clubs in intensive COVID-19 protocols (mandatory mask-wearing for everyone inside facility, most, if not all meetings conducted virtually, and daily testing) RIGHT NOW
-Dak Prescott is currently holding the Cowboys back from achieving their potential
-Jaguars owner Shad Khan shouldn’t fire Urban Meyer on January 10…he should fire him THIS SECOND
-Jimmy Garoppolo will net the 49ers a first-round pick should they decide to trade him in the offseason
-Micah Parsons should win 2021 DPOY honors, and Patrick Surtain II should win 2021 DROY honors
-The AFC Championship will be between the Chiefs and Patriots…and the NFC Championship will be between the Packers and Bucs
-The Chicago Bears MUST fire GM Ryan Pace in addition to Matt Nagy
- Should the following Head Coaches be fired or retained?
-Joe Judge: RETAIN
-Vic Fangio: FIRED
-Mike Zimmer: FIRED
-Pete Carroll: RETAIN
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Chiefs at Chargers Preview
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Picks for all other Week 15 Games
-Raiders at Browns
-Patriots at Colts
-Panthers at Bills
-Cardinals at Lions
-Jets at Dolphins
-Cowboys at Giants
-Washington at Eagles
-Titans at Steelers
-Texans at Jaguars
-Bengals at Broncos
-Falcons at 49ers
-Seahawks at Rams
-Packers at Ravens
-Saints at Bucs
-Vikings at Bears
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: Cordarrelle Patterson 100+ yards rushing and 100+ yards receiving, 3 TD (1 run, 1 catch, 1 50-yard TD pass)
-DKrom: Russell Wilson throws for 400+ yards and 4 TD including game-winning hail mary to former Ram Gerald Everett
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Chargers…TONIGHT is your opportunity to become legit Super Bowl contenders. SEIZE IT!!!
-Hal: Sean McVay and Rams…run the table and win the NFC West!!!
- Week 13 Takeaways
-DKrom: Poetic way for the Lions to win their first game of 2021, Chargers FINALLY turned Justin Herbert loose (Weeks 1-12: 6.2-yard ADOT on 1st/2nd down, Week 13: 10.2-yard ADOT)
-Hal: Patriots masterful game plan, Lions first win
- Truth or Exaggeration
-The Bucs MUST release Antonio Brown when his suspension ends after Week 15
-Micah Parsons has already entered the conversation to be considered THE best defensive player in football right now
-Marlon Humphrey’s season-ending torn pectoral injury will end up being the straw that broke the camel’s back for the 2021 Ravens
-Tua Tagovailoa will force the Dolphins to abandon their pursuit of Deshaun Watson, even if Watson gets legally cleared
-Gardner Minshew should be the starting QB for the Eagles going forward
-Javonte Williams should get FAR more carries than Melvin Gordon for the Broncos in the season’s final five weeks
-The Buffalo Bills chances of making the playoffs are in danger
-
Latest Russell Wilson news
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This or That
-Which team’s offensive struggles are you more alarmed by: Chiefs or Cowboys?
-Which team is more likely to make it to Super Bowl LVI: Bucs or Patriots?
-Who should win the 2021 Heisman Trophy: Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud?
-Who will be a more successful NFL head coach: Matt Rhule or Dan Campbell?
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Rams at Cardinals Preview
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Picks for all other Week 14 Games
-Steelers at Vikings
-Ravens at Browns
-Jaguars at Titans
-Raiders at Chiefs
-Saints at Jets
-Cowboys at Washington
-Falcons at Panthers
-Seahawks at Texans
-Lions at Broncos
-Giants at Chargers
-49ers at Bengals
-Bills at Bucs
-Bears at Packers
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: Jamaal Williams 200+ rushing yards and 3 TD
-DKrom: Lions win with another TD at the final gun…to former Bronco Khalif Raymond for 25 yards
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Chiefs…be willing to play December football on offense
-Hal: Ben Roethlisberger…go out on top
- Week 12 Takeaways
-DKrom: Time to start preparing for the possibility of Super Bowl LVI being Brady vs. Belichick, Bengals show they mean business
-Hal: Lot of high profile QB’s either ailing or struggling (Stafford, Big Ben, Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson)
- Truth or Exaggeration
-The San Francisco 49ers are the best NFL team in the state of California right now
-There’s a much better chance than many think of the Cowboys NOT winning the NFC East
-The Cardinals will win the NFC West
-The Packers should be considered the favorites to earn the NFC’s #1 playoff seed
-The Raiders should extend Derek Carr shortly after their season ends
-The Browns should go all in on trying to trade for either Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers
-Zac Taylor deserves serious consideration for Coach of the Year honors
- This or That
-Which rookie defensive player has had the more impressive season: Odafe Oweh or Patrick Surtain II?
-Which current OC would be a better option as the next head coach of either the Bears or Jaguars: Byron Leftwich or Greg Roman?
-If the Lions end up with the #1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, who should they take: Kayvon Thibodeaux or Aidan Hutchinson?
-Which team is more likely to miss out on the playoffs: Rams or Bills?
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Patriots at Bills Preview
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Picks for all other Week 13 Games
-Cowboys at Saints
-Bucs at Falcons
-Cardinals at Bears
-Chargers at Bengals
-Vikings at Lions
-Giants at Dolphins
-Eagles at Jets
-Colts at Texans
-Washington at Raiders
-Jaguars at Rams
-Ravens at Steelers
-49ers at Seahawks
-Broncos at Chiefs
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: Taylor Heinicke will complete 40 passes for 350+ yards, 4 TD in regulation, and one in OT
-DKrom: Joe Mixon sets the NFL single game rushing yardage record against the Chargers
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Bills…be willing to beat the Patriots at their own game
-Hal: Sean McVay and Rams…use this week as your get well game, get your RB’s involved again
- Week 11 Takeaways
-DKrom: You can make a case for T.J. Watt for MVP. The Steelers defense is an entirely different unit without him
-Hal: Chris Jones, Baker Mayfield needs to rest, Eagles a legit playoff contender
- Truth or Exaggeration
-The Cleveland Browns should sit Baker Mayfield until he is 100% aside from the labral tear in his non-throwing shoulder
-Jonathan Taylor should now be considered the front-runner for Offensive POY
-The Tennessee Titans will NOT get the AFC’s #1 playoff seed
-If the Lions beat the Bears on Thanksgiving Day, Matt Nagy should be fired first thing Friday morning
-Whoever wins this weekend’s Vikings/49ers game will be one of the two NFC Wild Card teams
-The Broncos re-signing Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick will go a long way in convincing either Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson to come to Denver should they be made available via trade
-Jason Garrett will never get another NFL coaching job again
- This or That
-Who is more likely to win their respective division: Chargers or Patriots?
-Which current DC and former head coach will do better if given a second HC opportunity: Dan Quinn or Vance Joseph?
-Which team is more likely to earn the #1 playoff seed in their respective conference: Cardinals or Ravens?
-Who will have the bigger impact for the Rams down the stretch: Von Miller or Odell Beckham, Jr.?
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Rams at Packers Preview
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Picks for all other Week 12 Games
-Bears at Lions
-Raiders at Cowboys
-Bills at Saints
-Steelers at Bengals
-Bucs at Colts
-Panthers at Dolphins
-Titans at Patriots
-Eagles at Giants
-Falcons at Jaguars
-Jets at Texans
-Chargers at Broncos
-Vikings at 49ers
-Browns at Ravens
-Seahawks at Washington
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: Ravens DL knocks Baker out of the game, Case Keenum throws 3 TD’s in the second half
-DKrom: Patriots hold the Titans to less than 100 yards of total offense
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Browns…PLAY UP TO YOUR POTENTIAL
-Hal: Bills…MAKE OR BREAK TIME…use this as your get right game
- Week 10 Takeaways
-DKrom: Rams ARE soft, Patriots just might be sneaky Super Bowl contender
-Hal: Pittsburgh/Lions tie, more underdogs winning
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Elephant In The Room: Which team is the best landing spot for Russell Wilson should he be traded? Broncos, Raiders, Browns, Eagles, or Saints
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Truth or Exaggeration
-Cam Newton will lead the Panthers to a playoff berth
-With the NFL’s easiest remaining schedule, the Tennessee Titans are a lock for the AFC’s #1 playoff seed
-Deebo Samuel is a top-five offensive weapon in the NFL
-Demarcus Ware and Devin Hester should both be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on first ballot
-The Broncos should bench Teddy Bridgewater after his lackadaisical play on the Darius Slay fumble-six
-The Dolphins issued the blueprint for how to stop Lamar Jackson
-If they beat the Cowboys this weekend, the Chiefs will win the AFC West
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Cowboys at Chiefs Preview
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Picks for all other Week 11 Games
-Patriots at Falcons
-Saints at Eagles
-Colts at Bills
-Ravens at Bears
-Lions at Browns
-Packers at Vikings
-Dolphins at Jets
-Washington at Panthers
-49ers at Jaguars
-Bengals at Raiders
-Cardinals at Seahawks
-Steelers at Chargers
-Giants at Bucs
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: Justin Fields will run for 150 yards and 2 TD and two big TD passes to Darnell Mooney
-DKrom: The Lions beat the Browns in OT on a 52-yard FG at the gun
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Chargers…UNLEASH THE JUSTIN!!!!!
-Hal: Kliff Kingsbury…avoid a repeat of 2020
- Week 9 Takeaways
-DKrom: Titans defense BALLING
-Hal: Justin Fields great performance on MNF, Jordan Love lays an egg
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Midseason Awards
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Truth or Exaggeration
-The 49ers should either take personnel power away from Kyle Shanahan after this season…or fire him
-Justin Fields will become a top-10 QB at some point next season…if not sooner
-Josh Allen has taken a MASSIVE step backward this season
-The New England Patriots will win the AFC East
-The Atlanta Falcons will make the playoffs as a wild card
-The Rams lack of physicality will prevent them from reaching Super Bowl LVI
-The Chiefs defense is actually better than the Chiefs offense
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Chiefs at Raiders Preview
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Picks for all other Week 9 Games
-Ravens at Dolphins
-Browns at Patriots
-Bills at Jets
-Falcons at Cowboys
-Bucs at Washington
-Saints at Titans
-Jaguars at Colts
-Lions at Steelers
-Vikings at Chargers
-Panthers at Cardinals
-Eagles at Broncos
-Seahawks at Packers
-Rams at 49ers
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: P.J. Walker, 350 yards and 4 TD in upset over Arizona. TD and 2-point conversion at the gun
-DKrom: Russell Wilson throws for 350 yards and 4 TD in his return to action
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Ryan Tannehill…take charge of this non-Derrick Henry Titans offense!!
-Hal: All 4 AFC West teams…GO GET IT!!! WHO WANTS IT?!!!
- Week 8 Takeaways
-Me: Dallas Cowboys have a “team of destiny” feel to them
-Hal: Backup QB showcase
- Truth or Exaggeration
-If the Saints offense sputters these next few weeks without Jameis Winston, the Saints should immediately sign Cam Newton
-Stuck in the swamps of mediocrity, Vikings owner Zygi Wilf should pivot in a new direction by firing both Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman after the season should they miss the playoffs
-After trading away Von Miller, the Broncos should trade all five of their top 100 2022 draft picks plus another future first or two for Russell Wilson should he become available
-If the Cowboys fail to reach the NFC Championship, Jerry Jones should fire Mike McCarthy and promote Kellen Moore to head coach
-Unless the Raiders or Chargers self-destruct, the Chiefs will either barely sneak in to the playoffs…or not make the playoffs at all
-The Chargers inability to stop the run will prevent them from winning the AFC West
-Because of the potential season-ending injury to Derrick Henry, the Indianapolis Colts have an excellent chance to win the AFC South
- This or That
-Who is more likely to reach Super Bowl LVI: Rams or Cowboys?
-Which long-tenured head coach is more likely to be coaching the exact same team 10 years from now: Sean Payton or Mike Tomlin?
-Which backup QB had the more impressive performance on Sunday: Mike White or Cooper Rush?
-Which team has been the bigger disappointment: Dolphins or Washington?
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Packers at Chiefs Preview
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Picks for all other Week 9 Games
-Jets at Colts
-Texans at Dolphins
-Patriots at Panthers
-Bills at Jaguars
-Browns at Bengals
-Falcons at Saints
-Broncos at Cowboys
-Raiders at Giants
-Vikings at Ravens
-Chargers at Eagles
-Cardinals at 49ers
-Titans at Rams
-Bears at Steelers
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: Jordan Love with 4 total TD (2 TD passes, 2 TD runs)
-DKrom: Cowboys lay a 60-burger on the Broncos
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Bengals…keep Joe Burrow upright!!!
-Hal: Kevin Stefanski…figure it out QUICK!!!
- Week 7 Takeaways
-Me: House cleanings await the Bears and Broncos
-Hal: Bengals with statement win, Gruden might have been holding the Raiders back all along, Kyle Pitts and Ja’Marr Chase are stars in the making
- Truth or Exaggeration
-NO team should trade for Deshaun Watson until his legal issues are resolved
-The Panthers would be a MUCH better destination for Deshaun Watson than the Dolphins
-Albeit with a 17-game caveat, Kyle Pitts will break the all-time rookie receiving yardage record for tight ends, which was set by Mike Ditka in 1961 with 1,076
-Ja’Marr Chase is already making an excellent argument to be considered a top-five WR in the NFL
-Should the Raiders make the playoffs, they should HIGHLY consider promoting interim head coach Rich Bisaccia to full-time head coach
-Even though they are still yet to win a game this season, the Lions are absolutely headed in the right direction under Dan Campbell
-D’Ernest Johnson is going to permanently force his way into the Browns RB rotation over these next several weeks, making it a three-headed monster once Kareem Hunt gets healthy
- Packers at Cardinals Preview
-How do the Packers attack the Cardinals through the air minus Davante Adams, Allen Lazard AND Marquez Valdes-Scantling?
-After seeing Kyler Murray take quite a pounding against the Texans, how should the Cardinals protect him better (other than better OL play) on a short week?
-Key matchups and picks
- Cowboys at Vikings Preview
-Is this Vikings secondary significantly less fearsome than it has been in recent years and thus extremely vulnerable if the front four can’t get to Dak Prescott?
-Even with Dalvin Cook fully healthy, should the Vikings still give around 25-33% of the touches to Alexander Mattison?
-Key matchups and picks
- Picks for all other Week 8 Games
-49ers at Bears
-Eagles at Lions
-Panthers at Falcons
-Dolphins at Bills
-Bengals at Jets
-Steelers at Browns
-Titans at Colts
-Rams at Texans
-Patriots at Chargers
-Jaguars at Seahawks
-Washington at Broncos
-Bucs at Saints
-Giants at Chiefs
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: Lions win in OT on a blocked punt return for a TD
-DKrom: Aaron Rodgers throws for at least 350 yards and 4 TD’s, 150 of those yards and 3 of those TD’s to Randall Cobb
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Patrick Mahomes….don’t go for the home run all the time
-Hal: Bengals, Rams, Bills….do NOT overlook your opponents, no matter how inferior they are
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Do you think Malik Willis is worth a roll of the dice in the first round, if not the top-10 picks and if so, why?
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Based on what you have seen on tape, what is your opinion of Matt Corral and how does he project to the NFL?
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What makes Kayvon Thibodeaux so special and what (aside from this talent poor QB class) makes him worthy of the #1 overall pick?
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Currently, it looks as if there is going to be a tight race to be the second EDGE off the board between Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson and Purdue’s George Karlaftis. At this time, which one of those two stud Big Ten pass rushers do you like better and why?
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What makes Evan Neal stand out from the rest of this talented OT class and do you think he has a legit case to be in the conversation for the #1 overall pick?
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Arguably THE deepest position group in this year’s draft class is at CB. Although LSU’s Derek Stingley, Jr. is regarded as the best of the bunch, two other corners that are impressing tremendously are Andrew Booth, Jr. of Clemson and Kaiir Elam of Florida. Would it either shock or surprise you if both of the latter joined Stingley as top-10 picks and/or make an equally compelling case to be the first corner off the board?
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It is pretty rare that we see a safety selected in the top five, but 2022 could very well be anomaly with Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton. What qualifies Kyle Hamilton to be the exception to the rule of not drafting a safety super high in the draft?
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Do you think Jahan Dotson has already made a solid case to be considered the best WR in the 2022 NFL Draft?
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Buy or Sell
-Jameson Williams (WR, Alabama)
-Kenny Pickett (QB, Pittsburgh)
-Travon Walker (DE, Georgia)
-Zion Johnson (G, Boston College)
-Bernhard Reimann (OT, Central Michigan)
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Top-10 Mock
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Lions: Kayvon Thibodeaux
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Texans: Malik Willis
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Jaguars: Evan Neal
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Jets: Derek Stingley, Jr.
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Giants: Aidan Hutchinson
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Eagles: Kyle Hamilton
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Falcons: DeMarvin Leal
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Washington: Matt Corral
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Eagles: Kaiir Elam
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Giants: Kenyon Green
- Week 6 Takeaways
-Me: Cardinals remove all doubt that they’re serious Super Bowl contenders, Ravens look even more dangerous than they did in 2019, Broncos look like they have quit on Vic Fangio a la the Bears and Marc Trestman in 2014
-Hal: Dak Prescott making a push for MVP, Carolina just not the same without Christian McCaffrey, Sam Darnold turning back into a pumpkin, Bengals are legit
- Truth or Exaggeration
-Mike McCarthy will prevent this Cowboys team from reaching the Super Bowl
-After holding Washington to less than 5 yards per pass attempt, the Chiefs have turned the corner on defense
-Derrick Henry is already a lock to get enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
-Carson Wentz is well on his way to regaining his 2017 MVP form
-Barring a miraculous turnaround these next two weeks, the Broncos should trade Von Miller by the November 2 deadline
-The Cardinals offense is only about to get more dangerous with the addition of Zach Ertz, who will end up being an upgrade over the injured Maxx Williams
-The AFC North is making a serious push to be considered the best division in football
- Bengals at Ravens Preview
-How underrated is this Bengals defense?
-How much more dangerous does Rashod Bateman make this Ravens offense?
-Key matchups and picks
- Chiefs at Titans Preview
-Which defense do you trust more at this time: the Chiefs or the Titans?
-If either one of Julio Jones or A.J. Brown misses this game, how big of a hit do the Titans chances of winning this game take?
-Key matchups and picks
- Picks for all other Week 7 Games
-Broncos at Browns
-Washington at Packers
-Falcons at Dolphins
-Jets at Patriots
-Panthers at Giants
-Eagles at Raiders
-Lions at Rams
-Texans at Cardinals
-Bears at Buccaneers
-Colts at 49ers
-Saints at Seahawks
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: Joe Burrow 5 TD passes….all to Ja’Marr Chase including a 75-yarder to take the lead with under a minute to play
-DKrom: Case Keenum throws for 340 yards and 3 TD’s…and the Browns defense totals 10 sacks…6 of them by Myles Garrett
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Miami Dolphins, make sure you have a backup plan in case Deshaun Watson is either put on the Commissioner’s Exempt List or worse, convicted
-Hal: Bottom-five teams…either start winning or accumulating more draft capital
- Week 5 Takeaways
-Me: Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Kyler Murray, Justin Herbert, Dak Prescott and Tom Brady all making very strong cases to be 2021 NFL MVP
-Mark: Lamar Jackson’s performance on Monday night, Browns/Chargers game, Bills statement win over Chiefs
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The big story in the NFL this week comes out of Las Vegas as Jon Gruden resigned as head coach of the Raiders after numerous emails of him making racist, misogynistic and homophobic slurs were uncovered by the New York Times. Although it is refreshing to see Gruden gone, the prevailing sentiment is that this is just the tip of the iceberg as many powerful decision makers around the NFL harbor such attitudes. How can we as fans, reporters, et al continue to hold the league accountable and force them to reveal and expel more of these bad apples?
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This Or That
-Who is a more legitimate Super Bowl contender: Cowboys or Cardinals?
-Which head coach is more likely to get fired at season’s end: Urban Meyer or Vic Fangio?
-Who is more likely to grow into a franchise QB: Daniel Jones or Jalen Hurts?
-Which defensive rookie has been more impressive: Micah Parsons or Odafe Oweh?
- Chargers at Ravens Preview
-How has Lamar Jackson taken that big next step forward as a passer so far this season?
-Last week against the Browns, the Chargers defense was absolutely GASHED on the ground for 230 yards. And in Baltimore’s past two games, both the Broncos and Colts sold out to stop the run, and Lamar obviously made them pay through the air. What would you anticipate Brandon Staley doing differently on Sunday in order to at least contain this seemingly unstoppable Ravens offense?
-Key matchups and picks
- Cardinals at Browns Preview
-How has Kyler Murray grown as a passer so far this season?
-Did the 49ers provide a basic blueprint on how to stop or significantly slow down Kyler and the high-powered Cardinals passing attack last week? If so, how do you expect the Browns to replicate it this week?
-Key matchups and picks
- Picks for all other Week 6 Games
-Bucs at Eagles
-Dolphins at Jaguars
-Texans at Colts
-Packers at Bears
-Bengals at Lions
-Vikings at Panthers
-Chiefs at Washington
-Rams at Giants
-Raiders at Broncos
-Cowboys at Patriots
-Seahawks at Steelers
-Bills at Titans
- Bold Predictions
-Mark: Tom Brady throws three TD passes despite his injured thumb
-DKrom: Justin Herbert throws for 500 yards and scores six total TD (4 passing, 2 running)
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Sam Darnold, lead your team to a win!!!!
-Mark: Chiefs defense step up!!!!
- Week 4 Takeaways
-Me: Rookie QB’s shine, Cardinals prove they’re for real
-Hal: Cordarrelle Patterson, Buffalo Bills early AFC Super Bowl favorite
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Quarter Pole Awards
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This Or That
-Who is more likely to win their division: Chargers or Cardinals?
-Which previously unbeaten team got exposed more last week: Panthers or Raiders?
-Which division is worse: The 2020 NFC East or the 2021 AFC South?
-Which 1-3 team is more likely to make the playoffs: Vikings or Steelers?
- Browns at Chargers Preview
-Do the Browns have the best defense in the NFL right now?
-Does Baker Mayfield need to play his best game of the year to date in order for the Browns to eke out a win over the Chargers?
-Key matchups and picks
- Bills at Chiefs Preview
-Do you think the Bills need to use their RB’s and TE’s in the passing game a LOT more than usual in order to win Sunday night?
-How big of a factor do you think Josh Gordon will be in this game?
-Key matchups and picks
- Picks for all other Week 4 Games
-Rams at Seahawks
-Jets at Falcons
-Dolphins at Buccaneers
-Patriots at Texans
-Titans at Jaguars
-Lions at Vikings
-Packers at Bengals
-Broncos at Steelers
-Saints at Washington
-Eagles at Panthers
-Bears at Raiders
-Giants at Cowboys
-49ers at Cardinals
-Colts at Ravens
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: Joe Burrow 4 TD passes, fourth one with less than 30 seconds…and converts two-point conversion to Ja’Marr Chase. Aaron Rodgers sacked by Trey Hendrickson to end game
-DKrom: Tyrann Mathieu pick-sixes Josh Allen TWICE
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Shad Khan …do right by Trevor Lawrence by FIRING URBAN MEYER ASAP!!!
-Hal: Kliff Kingsbury…forget the curse…and forge ahead to that fifth win!!!
- Week 3 Takeaways
-Me: Watching Justin Tucker’s historic 66-yard field goal at the gun reminded me that it’s time for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors to put more specialists in these next several years
-Hal: 2020 Josh Allen is back, Derek Carr continues to dominate, Aaron Rodgers back to normal, surprising upsets, et al
- Truth or Exaggeration
-Ben Roethlisberger is literally finished and the Steelers should consider benching him if their offense continues to sputter
-Nobody is playing better football than the Los Angeles Rams right now
-If the Chiefs do not beat the Eagles in dominating fashion this week, it will be THE reddest of red flags
-Matt Nagy is the biggest impediment to the development of Justin Fields
-The Buffalo Bills are in prime position to nab the AFC’s #1 playoff seed
-If the Seahawks lose to the 49ers on Sunday, they will NOT make the playoffs
-If it wasn’t for two plays, Kirk Cousins would be squarely in the MVP conversation right now
-The Dallas Cowboys are clear favorites to win the NFC East in 2021
- This Or That
-What is Micah Parsons best long-term position: Off-ball linebacker or edge pass rusher?
-Which 3-0 team is the more legitimate contender: Panthers or Broncos?
-What has been the bigger disappointment so far this season: The rookie QB’s or the Washington defense?
-Who will make the bigger impact for his new team: Richard Sherman (Bucs) or Josh Gordon (Chiefs)?
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Cardinals at Rams Preview
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Raiders at Chargers Preview
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Picks for all other Week 4 Games
-Jaguars at Bengals
-Browns at Vikings
-Lions at Bears
-Washington at Falcons
-Panthers at Cowboys
-Giants at Saints
-Chiefs at Eagles
-Texans at Bills
-Colts at Dolphins
-Titans at Jets
-Seahawks at 49ers
-Ravens at Broncos
-Steelers at Packers
-Bucs at Patriots
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: Sony Michel runs for 120 yards and 3 TD for the Rams
-DKrom: Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase connect for 4 TD’s on Thursday night
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Chargers and Raiders…give us a game for the ages on Monday night and show America you mean business!!!!
-Hal: Vikings…don’t let your season slip away this week!!!!
- Week 2 Takeaways
-Me: The Ravens victory over the Chiefs has serious potential to be paradigm-shifting in the way we think about them and Lamar Jackson
-Hal: The Jekyll-and-Hyde teams (Saints, Titans, Steelers, Dolphins, Bills, Chargers)
- Truth or Exaggeration
-Taylor Heinicke will NOT give back Washington’s starting QB job to Ryan Fitzpatrick
-Not only will Justin Fields not give back the Bears starting QB job to Andy Dalton, he will have a similar rookie season as Justin Herbert did last year
-The Cowboys should NOT reduce the workload they gave Tony Pollard last week one bit
-If their season continues to go south, the Colts should NOT play Carson Wentz so they can keep their 2022 first-round pick
-It’s time to put Brian Burns of the Carolina Panthers squarely in the conversation as one of the five best edge pass rushers in the NFL
-The Chiefs should no longer be considered clear-cut favorites to win the AFC West this season
-Win or lose, should Jimmy G struggle badly against an atrocious Packers defense, the 49ers should insert Trey Lance into the starting lineup in Week 4
-Tom Brady will have the best statistical season of his entire career in 2021
- This Or That
-Who is the leading candidate for 2021 NFL MVP honors right now: Derek Carr or Kyler Murray?
-Who will be the hotter head coaching candidate come January 10, 2022: Bills OC Brian Daboll or Panthers OC Joe Brady?
-Who are you more worried about after two weeks: Josh Allen or the Chiefs defense?
-Which QB would you rather have for the next decade: Patrick Mahomes or Justin Herbert?
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Chargers at Chiefs Preview
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Bucs at Rams Preview
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Picks for all other Week 2 Games
-Panthers at Texans
-Saints at Patriots
-Washington at Bills
-Falcons at Giants
-Colts at Titans
-Cardinals at Jaguars
-Bengals at Steelers
-Bears at Browns
-Ravens at Lions
-Jets at Broncos
-Dolphins at Raiders
-Seahawks at Vikings
-Packers at 49ers
-Eagles at Cowboys
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: Justin Herbert 5 TD passes 450+ yards passing, scoring go-ahead TD with less than 2:00 away…Derwin James seals it with an INT!!!
-DKrom: Justin Fields throws for 300+ passing yards, runs for at least 75 more, and scores five total TD’s in a Bears upset victory over the Browns
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Matt Nagy, PLAY TO JUSTIN FIELDS STRENGTHS and put him in the BEST possible position to succeed so you don’t even have to go back to playing Andy Dalton
-Hal: All of the 0-2 teams (Giants, Colts, Vikings)….GET THAT FIRST WIN!!!
- Week 1 Takeaways
-Me: The Chargers proved they aren’t the same old Chargers
-Hal: LOTS of surprises
- Truth or Exaggeration
-All four NFC West teams will make the playoffs
-Justin Herbert and Matthew Stafford will be among the top three finalists for 2021 NFL MVP honors
-Kyler Murray has already proven himself to be a legit NFL franchise QB
-Urban Meyer will only last one season as Jaguars head coach
-It’s time to talk about the Atlanta Falcons as a serious candidate to have the #1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft
-The Philadelphia Eagles will be serious contenders for a Wild Card playoff spot this season
-Even though they didn’t come away with a win, the way the Browns played the Chiefs last week bodes EXTREMELY well for their chances in a potential playoff rematch at Arrowhead, especially when the weather will likely benefit their physical brand of football more
-The Tennessee Titans offense will be one of the NFL’s biggest disappointments in 2021
- This Or That
-Who had the more impressive defensive performance in Week 1: Steelers or Cardinals?
-Who is the best bet to be the main RB for the 49ers going forward: Trey Sermon or Elijah Mitchell?
-Which head coach has the hotter seat: Mike Zimmer or Matt Nagy?
-Who was the more impressive QB in Week 1: Dak Prescott or Derek Carr?
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Cowboys at Chargers Preview
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Chiefs at Ravens Preview
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Picks for all other Week 2 Games
-Giants at Washington
-49ers at Eagles
-Rams at Colts
-Broncos at Jaguars
-Texans at Browns
-Raiders at Steelers
-Bengals at Bears
-Saints at Panthers
-Patriots at Jets
-Bills at Dolphins
-Vikings at Cardinals
-Falcons at Buccaneers
-Titans at Seahawks
-Lions at Packers
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: A.J. Brown goes off for 10 receptions, 200 yards, and 4 TD
-DKrom: Aaron Rodgers roars back with a vengeance against the Lions on Monday night and throws an NFL record 8 TD passes in one game
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace, if you want to increase the odds of keeping your jobs, START JUSTIN FIELDS NOW!!!!
-Hal: Mike Vrabel and Titans D…SHOW US WHAT YOU’VE GOT!!
- GOOD IDEA/BAD IDEA
-Was it a good idea or bad idea for the Patriots to release Cam Newton and hand over the reins to Mac Jones right from the get go?
-Was it a good idea or bad idea for the Broncos to name Teddy Bridgewater as their starting QB over Drew Lock?
-Is it a good idea or bad idea for the Bears to begin the season with Andy Dalton under center as opposed to Justin Fields?
-Is it a good idea or bad idea for the 49ers to hold Trey Lance out of practice until Week 3 so the “small chip” fracture in his hand can fully heal?
- Truth or Exaggeration
-Zach Wilson, who I originally panned the Jets for drafting rather than Justin Fields or Trey Lance, has a FAR better chance of becoming the best QB from the 2021 class than most of us initially thought
-Robert Saleh is THE best possible man to help make the Jets a consistently relevant franchise
-Jameis Winston will have his best year as a pro in 2021
-The Carolina Panthers will finish with a better record than the Saints this season
-The Packers are the team that’s best equipped to dethrone the Bucs in the NFC
-Josh Allen, not Patrick Mahomes, will be the highest-scoring QB in fantasy football this year
-Tom Brady is right in his comments about it being more difficult for the NFL to deal with COVID-19 this year given the return to full capacity stadiums
- Cowboys/Bucs Preview and Prediction
-Impact of Zach Martin's absence, is Cowboys D improved?, is Bucs D even better?, Key Matchups
- Browns/Chiefs Preview and Prediction
-Are Browns AFC's strongest roster outside of KC?, Key Matchups
- Picks for all other Week 1 Games
-Jets at Panthers
-Eagles at Falcons
-Chargers at Washington
-49ers at Lions
-Vikings at Bengals
-Steelers at Bills
-Cardinals at Titans
-Seahawks at Colts
-Jaguars at Texans
-Packers at Saints
-Dolphins at Patriots
-Broncos at Giants
-Bears at Rams
-Ravens at Raiders
- Bold Predictions
-Hal: Matthew Stafford throws for 300+ yards and 4 TD’s in the first half alone
-DKrom: Andy Dalton gets sacked 10 times by the Rams, forcing the Bears to turn to Justin Fields in the second half
- Challenge Flags
-DKrom: Packers, if this is indeed “The Last Dance” with Aaron Rodgers…play like it on Sunday!! DOMINATE the Saints, regardless of what the final score says
-Hal: Bengals organization…KEEP JOE BURROW UPRIGHT!!!
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Based on everything we’ve seen and/or heard out of training camp and preseason action thus far, which player’s fantasy stock has gone up the most, and which player’s stock has fallen the most in your view?
-
In terms of the running back position, who are your favorite running backs this season outside the top four (McCaffrey, Cook, Henry, Kamara)?
-
One of the keys to not just prevailing in fantasy football, but in literally anything, it to be willing to go against the grain when it comes to groupthink. Are there any players you’re considerably higher on than most Mike? Considerably lower than?
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THIS OR THAT
-David Montgomery or J.K. Dobbins?
-Nick Chubb or Antonio Gibson? (PPR)
-Aaron Jones or Austin Ekeler?
-Allen Robinson or CeeDee Lamb?
-Adam Thielen or Tyler Lockett?
-Brandon Aiyuk or Ja’Marr Chase?
-Kyle Pitts or Mark Andrews?
-Logan Thomas or Irv Smith, Jr.?
-Lamar Jackson or Kyler Murray?
-Trevor Lawrence or Jalen Hurts?
- Buy Or Sell
-Justin Herbert will be a top-five fantasy QB in 2021
-Marvin Jones will be the most productive Jaguars WR in fantasy this season
-Given his history with Sam Darnold, Robby Anderson is the Panthers WR for fantasy owners to target in drafts, even more so than D.J. Moore
-Unless both Carson Wentz and Quenton Nelson make major strides in their recoveries, you should let someone else draft Jonathan Taylor
-Given the inevitable, net negative regression to the mean in TD % that is coming, you should let someone else draft Aaron Rodgers
- Name some players to avoid at each skill position
-QB: Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Justin Herbert
-RB: Saquon Barkley
-WR: CeeDee Lamb, Chris Godwin, Terry McLaurin
-TE: Kyle Pitts
- Fantasy drafts are usually won in the latter half (rounds 8-16). Name some players at each skill position with the potential to become HUGE steals who will likely be available in that range
-QB: Jalen Hurts, Trey Lance, Justin Fields, Taysom Hill
-RB: Salvon Ahmed
-WR: Marvin Jones, DeVonta Smith, Corey Davis, Cole Beasley
-TE: Logan Thomas, Jonnu Smith, Cole Kmet
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While I still firmly believe Trevor Lawrence will be the man under center on September 12, is it just absolutely bonkers for Urban Meyer to give Gardner Minshew any kind of chance to start?
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This year, the NFL plans to crack down on taunting, as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported a few weeks ago. Two taunting fouls per game will now result in an automatic ejection, plus fines and even suspensions. Yet in Week 1 of preseason action, officials were flagging even the most innocent of celebrations as taunting. Do you think this is just one of those things where the refs penalize a lot of stuff in preseason, then let a lot of it fly when the games count, or are you very worried that a bad taunting call will end up costing several teams key wins in 2021?
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With the Delta variant wave expected to get worse during the fall and winter, can you see many other teams following the Raiders lead?
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Main Takeaways from Week 1 of Preseason
-David: Several lesser known rookie edge-rushers show they are ready to contribute (Gregory Rousseau, Joe Tryon, and Joseph Ossai stood out)
-Hal: QB situations being ironed out
- Truth or Exaggeration
-The 49ers MUST hand the reins over to Trey Lance, by no later than Week 4, if not sooner
-Mac Jones will sit behind Cam Newton in New England for half of the season or longer before getting his chance to start
-Even though defensive backs don’t win NFL defensive rookie of the year honors that often, the Broncos Patrick Surtain II has an excellent chance to buck that trend
-The most productive WR in Jacksonville this season will not be D.J. Chark. It will not be Laviska Shenault. It will be Marvin Jones
-Rondale Moore will be the Cardinals most dangerous skill position weapon not named DeAndre Hopkins
-Given the Chiefs remarkably improved offensive line, Patrick Mahomes will have the best season of his young, illustrious career in 2021
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Of all the teams that finished in last place in 2020, which is most likely to win their division in 2021?
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Which playoff team from 2020 will see the biggest drop-off?
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Who will be the NFL’s two breakout superstars in 2021, one on offense, the other on defense?
-David: CeeDee Lamb (offense), Brian Burns (defense)
-Hal: Brandon Aiyuk (offense), Chase Young (defense)
- What is the main thing you’re looking for in Week 2 of the preseason?
David: Zach Wilson, can you build on your efficient first outing by leading multiple TD drives this week?
Hal: Health, health, health
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Do you know or know of Kelly Kleine, and if so, what kind of football mind did the Broncos get with her and what makes her so good at what she does?
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Who do you have in mind for the first ever all-woman NFL broadcast?
-
In recent months, your business, Athlete Relations has grown even more. In addition to signing more NFL clients, in what other ways has Athlete Relations expanded since we last had you on?
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During your time in the sports industry, have you ever felt mistreated solely because you’re a woman? What can me and my fellow men do to create THE best possible workplace environment for women in sports, and in any other field?
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Do you still think it would be the worst thing for the Bears to play Dalton for just four games and then give the reins to Justin Fields shortly thereafter?
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How much will what Simone Biles did shift the paradigm in how women in sports (and women in general) are perceived and does the sick reaction of many to her decision not to participate in that event show you that too many of my fellow men are unfortunately desperate to not let our sisters take more control of the wheel?
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2021 NFL Predictions
-2021 NFL MVP: Josh Allen
-2021 NFL Offensive POY: Alvin Kamara, Derrick Henry
-2021 NFL Defensive POY: Chase Young
-2021 NFL Offensive ROY: Trevor Lawrence, Trey Lance
-2021 NFL Defensive ROY: Wide open
-2021 NFL Comeback POY: Nick Bosa, Dak Prescott
-2021 NFL Coach of the Year: Kyle Shanahan, Brandon Staley
-Super Bowl LVI Matchup and Winner: 49ers, Chiefs over Packers
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As you know, this past year-and-a-half or so has been nothing short of paradigm shifting in terms of women in sports. It seems that every month, a new glass ceiling in the sports industry is smashed to pieces. In recent months, we’ve seen the highest-ranked female scouting executives in NFL history (Kelly Kleine of the Denver Broncos and Catherine Raiche of the Philadelphia Eagles) and two women (Becky Hammon and Teresa Weatherspoon) receive serious consideration for NBA head coaching jobs. Yet Major League Baseball, where you work, saw arguably the two biggest glass ceilings get shattered this year. First, we witnessed Kim Ng become the first woman GM in league history, and just a few weeks ago, we saw the first-ever all-female broadcast of a Major League Baseball game with Alanna Rizzo, Sarah Langs, Lauren Gardner, Heidi Watney and Melanie Newman. As a woman who assists with the radio broadcasts of an MLB franchise, how much did it mean to you to see such a barrier-breaking milestone in terms of women in sports media, and sports in general? Have you met any of the five aforementioned women who took part in that historic broadcast?
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During your career, have you ever felt mistreated solely because you’re a woman? What can me and my fellow men do to help ensure the safest workplace environment possible for women, whether in sports, or in any other field?
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What are some of the responsibilities of your current job? Do you aspire to get to a higher level in broadcasting, whether as a studio anchor, field reporter, etc.?
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You currently reside in Tampa, where the Lightning just won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles, the Bucs are coming off an incredible win in Super Bowl LV, and are in the best position possible to run it back, and the Rays are coming off a World Series appearance. Given all this winning, many are referring to Tampa as “CHAMPA BAY.” How does it feel to be living in Tampa amidst all this championship-level play from its three major sports teams?
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What were your favorite pro sports teams growing up?
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What are some of your favorite sports to watch other than baseball?
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When you look at the standings alone in both the American and National League, it seems like a wide open race for the 2021 World Series Championship. I just want to get some predictions from you as to how the rest of this MLB season will unfold
-Best NL record: Los Angeles Dodgers
-Best AL record: Tampa Bay Rays
-2021 League MVP: Ohtani
-2021 Cy Young Award Winner: Liam Hendricks
-2021 AL Champion: Rays (if not, White Sox)
-2021 NL Champion: Dodgers
-2021 World Series winner:
-MVP of 2021 World Series: Rays over Dodgers
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If both Carson Wentz and Quenton Nelson take until late October to recover, are the Colts looking at a potential top-10, if not top-five pick in the 2022 NFL Draft?
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Chris Mortensen reported that the Colts are not going to pursue a trade for a veteran QB like Nick Foles, Gardner Minshew, or Marcus Mariota at this time, but implied the team can change its mind if Jacob Eason struggles badly in preseason. Should that happen, which of those three aforementioned quarterbacks would YOU trade for if you were Chris Ballard, and why?
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Do you think the Niners will be forced to abandon their original plan and start Trey Lance sooner than many expect?
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As long as the Bears get 10 or more starts from Justin Fields this year, would it be acceptable to let him wait his turn for just a few weeks given the uncertainties on the offensive line?
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How bullish are you on this new Chiefs offensive line and if they’re as good as PFF thinks they’re going to be, is defending Patrick Mahomes going to be scarier than ever before?
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Last week, nearly the entire Vikings QB room, including Kirk Cousins, was forced to isolate when rookie Kellen Mond tested positive for COVID-19, because they were not vaccinated. If this was Week 1, the Vikings would have been in BIG BIG trouble. Do you get the feeling that a similar situation that occurs in the regular season will cost a team a spot in the playoffs?
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Do you like how the Broncos are apparently going to use Pat Surtain?
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The Browns were outscored by 11 points last year and were an astonishing 7-2 in games decided by seven points or less, and that’s almost certainly going to regress to the mean in 2021. Because of those statistics, should the Ravens be considered AFC North favorites?
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Two star defensive players (Cardinals pass rushing OLB Chandler Jones and Dolphins CB Xavien Howard) have made it clear they want to be traded. If either the Cardinals, Dolphins (or both) are forced to cave in at some point before the trade deadline, what would be the best possible destination for Jones and for Howard?
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Tonight, football returns with the Hall of Fame Game between the Cowboys and Steelers. If there are any players on either team to keep an eye on tonight, who are they and why?
- DRAFT STRATEGIES
-The two most common ways to begin a fantasy football draft (at least the ones I’ve come across) are to either draft two running backs in the first two rounds, or to draft one running back and one wide receiver in the first two rounds. Which of the two approaches do you prefer and why?
-When you’re drafting, how much stock do you put into early season schedules (Weeks 1-4) and [fantasy] playoff schedules?
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Speaking of fantasy playoff schedules, with the NFL changing to the 17 game/18 week regular season format this year, when would you recommend fantasy league commissioners schedule their playoffs (same standard as always with weeks 14-16, or do you move it to weeks 15-17)?
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Running Backs
-Why is Christian McCaffrey your #1 fantasy player right now?
-Why is Jonathan Taylor worth an investment as early as the fifth overall pick in fantasy drafts?
- Wide Receivers
-Why do you think 2021 will be Terry McLaurin's breakout season from a fantasy perspective?
-WR is always one of the deeper positions in fantasy football. Would you be content if the first receiver you drafted was a guy like Adam Thielen, CeeDee Lamb or D.J. Moore?
- Tight Ends
-Would you fault anybody for taking Kyle Pitts with both Mark Andrews and T.J. Hockenson still on the board?
- Quarterbacks
-Unlike in real football, great QB play in fantasy football is quite plentiful. That’s why they say every year to wait as long as you can to draft a QB. How long would you personally wait on a QB in 2021?
-Currently, you have Kyler Murray and Lamar Jackson ahead of Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, and Russell Wilson, on your board. Why are you more bullish on the former two than you are on the latter three at the moment?
- Name some players to avoid at each skill position
-QB: Joe Burrow, Aaron Rodgers
-RB: Josh Jacobs, Darrell Henderson
-WR: Mike Evans, Kenny Golladay
-TE: Dallas Goedert, Noah Fant, Robert Tonyan
- Fantasy drafts are usually won in the latter half (rounds 8-16). Name some players at each skill position with the potential to become HUGE steals who will likely be available in that range
-QB: Tua Tagovailoa,
-RB: A.J. Dillon, Gio Bernard
-WR: Parris Campbell, Elijah Moore
-TE: Adam Trautman, Jonnu Smith
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Hypothetically speaking, if there’s a tie in the competition between Justin Fields and Andy Dalton at the end of preseason play, and if there’s a tie between Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo at the end of preseason play, should the Bears and 49ers unquestionably start Justin Fields and Trey Lance, respectively, in Week 1?
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What should we expect from Zach Wilson and this young Jets offense this season, and do you think Joe Douglas has put his rookie QB in the best possible position to succeed?
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Does the approach Urban Meyer's taking with Travis Etienne concern you about how he will utilize Trevor Lawrence?
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You said the transition from the Alabama offense to Josh McDaniels’ offense isn’t as seamless as many think. Why is that so and when is the earliest we see Mac Jones this season?
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How much should we temper expectations for this Rams offense as a result of the brutal injury to Cam Akers and what schematic adjustments, if any, should we expect?
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With the presence of new Seahawks OC Shane Waldron, who is known for his creativity and has been praised by Russell Wilson as “an amazing mind” and “super collaborative”, is this the season we finally see the Seahawks take the shackles completely off Russell Wilson?
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If this new Chiefs OL is as improved as advertised, could this be the best season of Patrick Mahomes’ career to date?
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Which holes in his game must Josh Allen address the most this season?
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Does Julio Jones’ addition make the Titans the offense that can best match the Chiefs pound for pound?
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Do you think the marriage between Sam Darnold, those weapons the Panthers have and the Joe Brady offense give Darnold a good enough chance to beat the odds?
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Is it the right thing for the Broncos to do everything possible to make sure Drew Lock wins the job fair and square?
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Would you be either surprised or shocked if the Broncos ended up as a top-10 defense this season, if not top-five?
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How much improved is the Bengals offensive line compared to last season and how, if at all, is Joe Burrow better equipped to deal with below average OL play?
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Should the Dolphins do whatever it takes to get Deshaun Watson, or should they just play out the season with Tua Tagovailoa under center and see what he has?
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Would you expect somewhat of a rough start to the season for Justin Herbert given he has to learn his second offensive system in as many years?
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Hypothetically speaking, should the QB competition between Justin Fields and Andy Dalton, end in a tie, with both training camp and preseason play accounted for, should the tie go to Fields or Dalton? If Dalton starts Week 1, when is the earliest you think we see Justin Fields this season?
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What is your most educated guess as to Allen Robinson’s future as a Bear at this point in time? How much hotter should Ryan Pace’s seat be if the Bears let Allen Robinson walk for nothing?
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The two young pass-catchers I personally have my eye on are TE Cole Kmet and WR Darnell Mooney. Which one of those two sophomores (so to speak) has the bigger breakout season, and how much does the answer to that question depend on who starts more games at QB?
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If Roquan Smith does what he did in 2020 this season, do the Bears give him a similar mega-deal before Week 1 of the 2022 season?
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Since their out-of-this-world 2018 season, the Bears defense has still been solid, but nowhere near the dominance they showed that year. This season, the Bears are returning to the basic Vic Fangio system under new defensive coordinator Sean Desai. If you take that, plus Khalil Mack at full strength (he wasn’t 100% last season), a full season from Akiem Hicks, and a sophomore breakout campaign from Jaylon Johnson, will this 2021 Bears defense be the best the franchise has had since 2018?
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Even with Tarik Cohen back from injury and Super Bowl LIV hero Damien Williams now in the stable, do you see David Montgomery having an even better season in 2021, and is he worth taking in the fourth or fifth round in fantasy football re-draft leagues?
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What position battles (other than QB) will you be keeping an eye on as the Bears begin training camp next week?
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WAY TOO EARLY Predictions
-Bears 2021 MVP: Khalil Mack
-Bears 2021 Breakout Player: Darnell Mooney
-Bears 2021 Bounce-back Player: Akiem Hicks
-Bears final 2021 regular season record, place in division, playoff seed: 8-9, 2nd place, no playoffs
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Based on the intel you have, why did the Panthers decide to take Jaycee Horn over Justin Fields, and why do they think Sam Darnold can be the long-term answer for them at QB?
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Outside of Jaycee Horn, which Panthers rookie do you see making the biggest impact this season?
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Last season, Christian McCaffrey, the focal point of the Panthers offense, only played three games due to various injuries. With the NFL moving to the new 17-game regular season format this season, how much do the Panthers plan to lighten CMC’s workload, if at all? Is he still worth the first overall pick in fantasy drafts?
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The Panthers have one of the NFL’s rising stars at WR in D.J. Moore. Despite playing with five different QB’s over the past two seasons, he’s totaled 1200+ receiving yards each year. If he plays as good or better in 2021, can you see the Panthers extending him some time before the 2022 season?
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Do you think Brian Burns solidifies himself as a top-10 pass rushing DE this season, if not top-five?
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Listener question: Is Ha-Ha Clinton Dix still an option at safety or is there another FA target the team has its eye on, like bringing back Tre Boston?
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What position battles will you be keeping an eye on as soon as the Panthers begin training camp?
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WAY TOO EARLY Predictions
-Panthers 2021 MVP: Brian Burns/D.J. Moore
-Panthers 2021 Breakout Player: Donte’ Jackson
-Panthers 2021 Bounce-back Player: Yetur Gross-Matos
-Panthers final 2021 regular season record, place in division, playoff seed: 10-7
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Aside from boycotting the NFL, what can we do to hold the NFL accountable for not caring whatsoever about the physical and emotional safety of its female employees?
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During your experience working in the sports industry thus far, were there times you ever felt mistreated because you are a woman? What can us men do to be the best possible allies for you and all of our sisters in this field, or in any field?
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What will be the next major barrier to fall for women in pro sports? Will it be the first woman NBA head coach, first woman NFL GM, first woman NFL offensive or defensive coordinator, or something else?
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You currently work for The Draft Network, which I have said many times is THE best year-round NFL Draft resource there is. We have interviewed many of your colleagues, including your partner in crime (the good kind) Paige Dimakos earlier this year. What exactly do you do for TDN, and are there any exciting developments going on there this season?
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Last week, the Washington Football Team was fined $10 million due to the findings of an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment throughout the club. That said, the attorney who led the investigation, Beth Wilkinson hasn’t released a single page of her report and the aforementioned penalty can only be summarized as a slap on the wrist. Aside from boycotting the NFL, what can we do to hold the NFL accountable for not caring whatsoever about the physical and emotional safety of its female employees?
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During your experience working in the sports industry thus far, were there times you ever felt mistreated because you are a woman? What can us men do to be the best possible allies for you and all of our sisters in this field, or in any field?
-
We are just two years removed from the Raptors winning the NBA title. What did that monumental achievement mean not just to Toronto, but to all of Canada in general? Speaking of the NBA title, you currently reside in the Phoenix area. Just how widespread is Suns fever throughout the entire state of Arizona right now? 2021 NBA Finals prediction?
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As we speak right now, all NFL training camps will be in full force in just over three weeks. What are you looking forward to the most this NFL season?
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WAY TOO EARLY 2021 NFL predictions
-2021 NFL MVP: Josh Allen
-2021 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: Justin Fields
-2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: Patrick Surtain II
-Super Bowl LVI Matchup and Winner: Bucs vs. Browns, Bucs
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What will be the next major glass ceiling to be shattered in pro sports? Will it be the first woman NBA head coach, first woman NFL GM, first woman NFL offensive or defensive coordinator, or something else?
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How did your experience as a Broncos cheerleader help make you into the strong, powerful woman you are today, and how pivotal were those seven years in getting you ready to go into sports media?
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During your seven years on the team, did you ever encounter anyone giving you hell and/or stereotyping you for being a cheerleader? What can me and my fellow men do to help ensure a safe, healthy workplace environment free from such stereotypes and all other forms of sexual harassment for ALL women in sports?
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You were a Broncos cheerleader in 2015, when the Broncos won Super Bowl 50. That was truly one of THE most intriguing Super Bowl championship seasons I have ever watched. Aside from going to San Francisco, dancing at the Super Bowl, and every post-game celebration that came afterward, what were some of your most memorable moments from that epic season? Did the cheerleaders get a Super Bowl ring, and how similar or different is it to the ring the players received?
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Based on what you’ve heard, why did the Broncos decide to pass on Justin Fields and go with the current QB situation they have?
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Would it be totally unsurprising if Teddy Bridgewater is the starter on September 12, or would he have to just absolutely beat out Drew Lock SIGNIFICANTLY to win the job right off the bat? What other training camp battles will you be watching?
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Would anything less (and I mean ANYTHING less) than a playoff appearance this season cost Vic Fangio his job as head coach of the Broncos?
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WAY TOO EARLY Predictions
-Broncos 2021 MVP: Courtland Sutton
-Broncos 2021 Breakout Player: Jerry Jeudy
-Broncos 2021 Bounce-back Player: Bradley Chubb
-Broncos final 2021 regular season record, place in division, playoff seed: 10-7, 2nd place in AFC West, #7 playoff seed
-If Broncos make playoffs, how far will they go? One and done
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Just a few weeks ago, the Titans acquired Future Hall of Fame WR Julio Jones and a 2023 sixth-round pick from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Tennessee’s 2022 second-round pick and 2023 fourth-round pick. Now you add Julio Jones, who can still play at a very high level, to a Titans offense that has arguably the best running back in the NFL in Derrick Henry, A.J. Brown, who has grown into a top-10 WR in the NFL after just two seasons in the league, and a QB in Ryan Tannehill who has played at a Pro Bowl level for the last two years. Does the acquisition of Julio Jones make the Titans THE most dangerous offense in the entire NFL right now?
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A big issue for the Titans offensively is the depth at the skill positions behind Julio Jones, A.J. Brown and Derrick Henry. Which Titans offensive skill position players do you expect to play the biggest role outside of those three?
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For the Titans to go the distance, they are going to need FAR better play from their defense. And their defensive woes start up front, as they’ve arguably had the most anemic pass rush in the league in recent years. To address that issue, the Titans signed former Steelers pass rushing OLB Bud Dupree to a five-year deal worth up to $85 million. However, Bud Dupree is also coming off a torn ACL that he suffered late last season. When is the earliest we can expect Bud Dupree to play in 2021?
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I was very impressed with the Titans 2021 NFL Draft, especially in the first three rounds, where they got excellent value everywhere. In the first round, they selected Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley, who probably would’ve been a top 10-15 pick if it weren’t for his back issues. In round two, they got a potential decade-long starter at OT, either left or right, in North Dakota State’s Dillon Radunz. In round three, they added some much-needed ILB depth with Monty Rice out of Georgia, and got a potential GEM in versatile Washington DB Elijah Molden at 100 overall. What did you think of the Titans draft as a whole, and which rookie do you expect to have the biggest impact right off the bat? When it comes to Caleb Farley and Dillon Radunz, which one of those two would you say needs to absolutely ball out for the Titans to fulfill their potential?
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An underrated potential concern for the Titans is the departure of former OC Arthur Smith to the Falcons, where he’s obviously now the head coach. Moreover, new OC Todd Downing’s previous stint in that role was underwhelming to say the least. How worried are you that losing Arthur Smith could prevent this Titans offense from reaching its ceiling?
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What are the big Titans training camp battles for us to keep an eye on?
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WAY TOO EARLY Predictions
-Titans 2021 MVP: Derrick Henry
-Titans 2021 Breakout Player: Amani Hooker
-Titans 2021 Bounce-back Player: Rashaan Evans
-Titans final 2021 regular season record, place in division, playoff seed: 1st place, #3 seed, 11-6
-If Titans make playoffs, how far will they go? Divisional round at least
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This is the first year of the post-Drew Brees era for the Saints. Thus, all eyes are on the looming training camp battle between Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston to be the starting QB Week 1 in New Orleans. As of right now, what is your most educated guess as to which of those two will be under center for the Saints September 12 against the Packers?
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Given the COVID-related salary cap reduction this season, the Saints cap issues were further magnified this year. Moreover, according to OverTheCap.com, the Saints are projected to start the 2022 league year nearly $15 million above the cap, $14.847 million to be exact. This means, they will likely have to get super creative as they try to re-sign their two 2017 first-round picks, Marshon Lattimore and Ryan Ramczyk. Which one of those two do you believe is most likely to re-sign in New Orleans long-term? Can you see the Saints eventually re-signing both?
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In the 2021 NFL Draft, the Saints used all of their picks in the premium rounds (rounds 1-3) on defense. In the first round, they selected pass-rushing DE Payton Turner out of Houston. Next, in the second round, they selected Ohio State LB Pete Werner, and they traded up 22 spots in the third to select Stanford CB Paulson Adebo. Which of those three rookies do you see making the biggest impact for the Saints this season?
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In the fourth round, the Saints took another roll of the proverbial QB dice with Ian Book out of Notre Dame. During the pre-draft process, a draft analyst friend of mine who I trust said that Ian Book should switch positions and become a running back. Thus, when the Saints took him, I was wondering if they view him as Taysom Hill’s eventual replacement, especially if Hill is a cap casualty after this season. Do the Saints see Ian Book that way?
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Aside from the Jameis/Taysom competition, what are the biggest Saints training camp position battles to keep an eye on?
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Before we proceed, I am pleased to announce that we’re beginning a very special series of episodes on Women In Sports. This podcast intends to help promote and empower women in all facets of the sports industry as much as possible, from cheerleaders, reporters, agents and managers, to coaches and athletes. And speaking of women in sports, several major glass ceilings have just been smashed in the NFL. In the past month, Kelly Kleine and Catherine Raiche, became the two highest-ranked female scouting executives in NFL history. Would you be surprised if we saw the first ever woman NFL GM some time this decade?
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In your career on the NFL beat, was there ever a moment where you felt that you were treated unfairly because you’re a woman? What should us men do to help create and ensure the safest, most equitable work environment possible for women in sports, or in any other high-profile industry?
- Jaguars
-Not only did I feel the Travis Etienne pick was a waste given the presence of James Robinson on the roster, Urban Meyer says they are trying to get Etienne to play wide receiver in addition to running back, and he’s never played the former position. Outside of Etienne’s familiarity with Trevor Lawrence and his impact on team culture, how do you justify the Jaguars taking him in the first round?
-With their first of two second-round picks, the Jaguars selected Tyson Campbell, the long, tall athletic corner from Georgia with track speed. The only reason he fell out of the first round was his struggles locating the ball in the air. In 2018, a corner prospect with a similar body-type fell all the way to the end of the second round for essentially that same reason. That prospect? Carlton Davis, who has grown into a top-10 corner in the NFL for the Bucs. Can you see Tyson Campbell experiencing a similar rise over these next three years?
-In the third round, the Jaguars addressed the secondary again with safety Andre Cisco out of Syracuse. Cisco’s tape shows the ultimate “feast or famine” prospect. He’s either making a big play on the ball or giving up a big play to the opposing offense and nothing in between. That said, Doug Farrar of the USA Today “Touchdown Wire” said that Cisco could be “lethal” if he can get coached up to stop biting on every route. Just how high is Andre Cisco’s ceiling if he does eliminate those bad habits in his play?
- Texans
-The Texans first pick didn’t come until the third round at 67 overall and they used it on Stanford QB Davis Mills. As soon as that pick was made, the TV analysts were saying that the Texans were essentially admitting that Deshaun Watson has played his final snap as a Texan regardless of how his legal issues turn out. Do you see it that way? Would you anticipate Davis Mills starting a few games late this season?
-22 picks later, the Texans traded back up into the third, surrendering their 2022 fourth in the process. And they did that to select Michigan WR Nico Collins, who is that big-bodied WR they’ve been missing since they traded away DeAndre Hopkins. Joel Klatt said on the NFLN broadcast that Collins would’ve put up far better numbers in college if it weren’t for poor QB play at Michigan. Do you think he can find better success in the NFL with at least competent QB play?
- Colts
-At 21 overall, the Colts selected who they hope will be the consistent edge rusher that they’ve been lacking in Kwity Paye. At Michigan, Paye played a lot of his snaps inside, but some people believe the Colts should almost solely play him at defensive end for now. Is that what the Colts should do, or should they have him kick inside next to DeForest Buckner in certain sub-packages?
-In the second round, the Colts double-dipped on the defensive line with the versatile Dayo Odeyingbo from Vanderbilt. He is unlikely to play this season due to the Achilles injury he suffered in January, but the Colts obviously have high hopes for him long-term. What does he bring to the Colts front four that Kwity Paye does not?
- Titans
-At 22 overall, the Titans selected Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley. Some believed he would slide out of the first round entirely due to his two recent back surgeries. Prior to his most recent procedure, some of the top analysts considered Farley as the best corner in this class. Do you think there was a good argument in initially placing him above Pat Surtain and Jaycee Horn? If so, why?
- Eagles
-With their first-round pick, the Eagles traded up two spots with the division-rival Cowboys, leapfrogging the division-rival Giants to take DeVonta Smith. Now, we all know about DeVonta Smith. He was the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner and despite his size, he does EVERYTHING you want a WR to do. While I personally expect DeVonta Smith to have at LEAST a very good career (as in multiple Pro Bowls plus an All Pro honor or two), the Eagles, at least in my view, could have done a lot better by beginning their rebuild with Justin Fields. Do you think the Eagles should have taken Justin Fields, or is DeVonta Smith the kind of player you want to begin a roster overhaul with?
-In the second-round the Eagles, as they do often, rolled the dice on an extremely talented, yet often-injured player in Landon Dickerson. After the pick was made, many, if not most, said he would redshirt in 2021 and then replace Jason Kelce as the Eagles center of the future in 2022. However, they announced him as a guard and Chris Trapasso, lead NFL Draft analyst at CBS Sports, believes he’s a better bet at guard. If you were the Eagles, where would you plan to play Landon Dickerson?
-With their third-round pick, the Eagles went back to the trenches and took a favorite of several notable voices on Draft Twitter, Louisiana Tech DT Milton Williams. That said, Williams was introduced as a defensive end in the draft. Is the long-term outlook for Milton Williams as a potential replacement for Fletcher Cox at DT, or can you see him as a replacement for Brandon Graham at DE while kicking inside in sub-packages?
- Cowboys
-After trading back two spots, the Cowboys began their defensive-heavy draft with Penn State LB Micah Parsons. While LB was a pretty big need in Big D given Jaylon Smith’s inconsistencies and Leighton Vander Esch’s inability to stay healthy, several people whose opinions I value did not view Parsons as high as many in the NFL and media did. Did you consider Micah Parsons to be the best defensive prospect in this draft class?
-In the second-round, the Cowboys addressed the position they initially hoped to address in the first round, corner, with Kentucky’s Kelvin Joseph. Like Parsons, Joseph had some off-field concerns, but you also cannot deny his freakish athleticism. If he keeps his head on straight, just how high is his ceiling?
-The Cowboys had three picks in the third round and again, used all of them on defense with UCLA DT Osa Odighizuwa, Iowa DE Chauncey Golston and Oregon State CB Nahshon Wright. Which of those three is the likeliest to grow into a long-time contributor for the Cowboys?
- Giants
-In a move NOBODY expected, the Giants traded down in the first round after the Eagles snuck up and stole DeVonta Smith from them. They ended up at 20 overall and selected another weapon for Daniel Jones in Florida WR Kadarius Toney. Some didn’t understand this pick given the presence of Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton, but what those people either forgot or just don’t know is that Florida didn’t list Toney at any position. How does Kadarius Toney fit into the Giants offense this season and what is the best way for Jason Garrett to utilize his skill-set?
-In the second round, the Giants not only got a potential steal, they addressed arguably the lone remaining weak-spot on their defense, which was EDGE, with Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari. What does Ojulari bring to the Giants edge pass rush that nobody else currently on the roster does?
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Before we begin here, please explain the criteria you used in determining the ranking of all 32 NFL rosters
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NFC North (Packers 1 [3], Vikings 2 [7], Bears 3 [24], Lions 4 [31])
-Why did you rank the Vikings roster as high as you did? At least to me, they don’t seem anywhere near as strong as they were in 2018 when they were preseason Super Bowl darlings
-With Justin Fields now in the fold, what are the next must-dos for the Bears in roster building?
- AFC West (Chiefs 1 [2], Broncos 2 [17], Chargers 3 [21], Raiders 4 [26])
-In your view, do the massive upgrades the Chiefs made to their OL solidify them as favorites for a third-consecutive Super Bowl trip?
-Why did you rank the Broncos, who have one of the worst QB rooms in the entire NFL, ahead of the Chargers and Raiders, who have two top-12 QB’s themselves in Justin Herbert and Derek Carr, respectively?
- AFC North (Browns 1 [4], Ravens 2 [6], Steelers 3 [19], Bengals 4 [25])
-You and I are in agreement that the Browns are the most complete team in the AFC outside of Kansas City. What put them just one spot ahead of the Buffalo Bills in your rankings, and are they the best bet to top the Chiefs in the AFC despite having a worse QB situation than Buffalo?
-Would you be surprised if the Bengals ended up with a better record than the Steelers this season?
- NFC West (Rams 1 [10], Seahawks 2 [11], 49ers 3 [15], Cardinals 4 [23])
-While several believe the Rams as the best team in the NFC to challenge the Bucs, you are more lukewarm on them. Why is that the case?
-The Seahawks roster is VERY top-heavy and they lack depth in many places, especially on defense. Are Russell Wilson and that receiving corps he has to throw to pretty much the only reasons why you have Seattle as the 11th best roster in the league?
-If Trey Lance hits the ground running with a vengeance in the next two years, do the Niners become the best team in the division again?
- AFC East (Bills 1 [5], Patriots 2 [14], Dolphins 3 [18], Jets 4 [30])
-If Tua Tagovailoa takes a huge leap forward this season, do the Dolphins trade spots with the Patriots on your list roster wise?
- NFC East (Cowboys 1 [8], WFT 2 [9], Giants 3 [20], Eagles 4 [29])
-What was the tiebreaker that made you put the Cowboys ahead of Washington? Should it surprise anyone at all if Washington wins the division for a second consecutive season?
- AFC South (Titans 1 [12], Colts 2 [13], Jaguars 3 [28], Texans 4 [32]
-Compared to other NFL bottom-feeders in the past 5-10 years, how bad is this Texans roster? Is this like the worst roster in modern memory?
-Would it either surprise or shock you if Trevor Lawrence leads the Jaguars to a second-place finish in the division this season with say an 8-9 record?
- NFC South (Bucs 1 [1], Saints 2 [16], Falcons 3 [22], Panthers 4 [27])
-If the Falcons trade Julio Jones as expected, how far does that push them down these rankings, if at all?
-Is the NFC South going to be the most lopsided, non-competitive division in the NFL in 2021?
- 49ers
-The 49ers arguably made the biggest move in the arms race draft-wise. After losing out to the division-rival Rams in the Matthew Stafford sweepstakes, the 49ers went all in on finding their next franchise QB in the draft, trading two future first-round picks to move all the way up to three, where they selected Trey Lance. Before they made the move, Mark Schofield, one of THE best QB minds in the business, told me on this podcast that there was no clearer hand-in-glove scheme fit between prospect and team than Lance and the Niners. Also, many believed that out of the top-four QB’s in the draft, Lance’s ceiling was the highest. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared Trey Lance to Josh Allen, and Lance clearly has far better decision-making and accuracy than Allen did coming out of college. Given the athletic profile, the system he walks into and the talent around him, would it surprise you if Trey Lance is regarded as the best QB from this draft class five years down the line?
-In the second-round the 49ers made an odd selection with Notre Dame G Aaron Banks. What made it so is that Banks isn’t that athletic, pulling guard that is a major requirement in a Kyle Shanahan, zone-based offense. Why do you think the Niners took him?
-The Niners added to their backfield in the third round by trading their fourth-round pick to move up to 88 overall, where they took Trey Sermon. After this pick was made, my friend Carl Dumler, who was on my draft night live-stream at the time said it wouldn’t surprise him if Sermon eventually became the go-to guy at RB in San Francisco at some point this year. Now given the fact that Jeff Wilson may miss the first month of the season due to meniscus surgery plus Raheem Mostert’s inability to stay healthy, can you see Trey Sermon ending up with the lion’s-share of carries for the 49ers this season?
- Cardinals
-With the 16th overall pick, the Cardinals took Tulsa LB Zaven Collins. Bill Carroll, your colleague at Nuts and Bolts Sports said pre-draft that he thought Collins, not Micah Parsons, was the best off-ball LB in this draft. Did you share his view and regardless, how high are you on Zaven Collins as an explosive, playmaking LB in the NFL?
-The Cardinals were widely believed to want to make a big trade up in the first round for Jaylen Waddle. Obviously, they were unable to do so, but they added to their arsenal in the second round with Rondale Moore. Our friend Bill Carroll described him to be as “the mutant love child of Darren Sproles and Eric Metcalf.” How do you see Kliff Kingsbury using the 2018 Paul Hornung Award winner this season?
- Rams
-Despite signing DeSean Jackson in free agency, the Rams wanted a long-term vertical option in their passing offense and they hope they got it with Tutu Atwell. That said, the pick was a bit of a head-scratcher given Atwell’s underwhelming size (he weighed only 155 at the Louisville Pro Day). Do you think we mostly see Atwell on punt and/or kickoff returns this year before earning a larger role in Sean McVay’s offense?
- Seahawks
-The Seahawks, with their only pick in the first three rounds, took another WR in D’Wayne Eskridge. Eskridge, like Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf brings speed, speed, and more speed. He’s a two-time Indiana state high school track champion FYI. But the reason I personally didn’t like this pick was that it’s hard to find what Eskridge brings to the table that Lockett and Metcalf do not. That said, I’m not a scout. So my question is, do you see a certain skill or attribute in Eskridge’s game that’s not in that of Lockett or Metcalf?
- Falcons
-With the fourth overall pick, the Falcons decided to pass on a potential successor to Matt Ryan and instead took Kyle Pitts, the best non-QB prospect in the draft. Even though Pitts is listed as a tight end that, at least to some degree, is a misnomer. You can line him up inline, in the slot, or even at the X receiver position, and he is still equally as effective. Assuming the Falcons keep Julio Jones this season, does the addition of Kyle Pitts make the Falcons pass catching unit the most dangerous in the NFL?
-In the second round, the Falcons traded down five spots and selected Richie Grant, the talented, versatile safety out of UCF. Atlanta obviously needed a safety, but some would argue they should’ve went with Trevon Moehrig, who went just three picks later to the Raiders. Do you think Richie Grant was the right pick for the Falcons in terms of fit, or do you think they’ll regret taking him over Moehrig?
-In the third round, the Falcons made their first of two dips in the interior offensive line pool by selecting Jalen Mayfield, who played tackle at Michigan, but projects far better at guard in the NFL. Some were putting him in first-round mocks early in the process, but an underwhelming Pro Day sent him tumbling down the board. Do you think Mayfield is one of those prospects where the tape is far better than the way he tested? Does he have a shot to beat out Josh Andrews for that starting LG spot in training camp?
- Panthers
-With the eighth overall pick, the Panthers selected South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn, making him the first defensive player off the board. As you discussed on our Dash To The Draft DB’s special, Horn is the ideal corner for a press/man scheme. However, the Panthers run more of a zone-oriented scheme under defensive coordinator Phil Snow. Are you at least somewhat troubled by the scheme fit here between the Panthers and Jaycee Horn?
-After trading down twice in the second round, the Panthers got potential highway robbery with LSU WR Terrace Marshall, Jr. Marshall fell due to concerns about his injury history, but he brings a Courtland Sutton/Alshon Jeffery skill-set that the Panthers were sorely lacking at receiver. Sam Darnold now has a mouth-watering 11 personnel package with D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, and now Terrace Marshall. With weapons like these plus a healthy Christian McCaffrey, is Sam Darnold a quiet candidate for 2021 Comeback Player of the Year honors?
-With their first of two third-round picks, the Panthers went with a sorely needed OL upgrade in Brady Christensen, who protected Zach Wilson’s blindside at BYU. However, Matt Rhule said that the Panthers view him as someone who can play four different OL positions and added that he can be “elite” at guard. Do you think Brady Christensen will be better at tackle or guard in the NFL?
- Saints
-For the second time in four years, the Saints selected a “non-Power Five” pass rusher (Marcus Davenport in 2018, and Payton Turner in 2021). Turner obviously flew up draft boards after his freakish Pro Day, where he showed off his 84-inch wingspan. Can you see Payton Turner overtaking Marcus Davenport for the starting DE spot opposite Cameron Jordan at some point this season?
-In the second round, the Saints filled a massive void at linebacker with Ohio State’s Pete Werner, While nowhere near the freak athlete his fellow Buckeye Baron Browning is, he is a cerebral, hard-hat/lunch-pail player in the mold of long-time Vikings LB Chad Greenway. Do you see Pete Werner become the starting MLB with on-field play-calling duties in New Orleans relatively quickly?
- Lions
-With their first-round pick, the Lions began their draft theme of drafting guys that can “bite kneecaps off” with Oregon OT Penei Sewell. His addition arguably makes the Lions offensive line one of the most promising groups in the NFL. The Lions now have rock solid bookend tackles with Sewell at RT and Taylor Decker at left tackle. Inside, they have All Pro Frank Ragnow at center and Jonah Jackson, who had a very good rookie season in 2020, at one of the guard spots. Would you be surprised if the Lions OL becomes a top-10 unit at the end of this season, if not a top-five unit?
-On day two, the Lions double-dipped at defensive tackle with Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill. Double-dipping at a position in the draft usually means (at least in terms of logic) that the two players have perfectly complimentary skill sets. How well (if at all) do Onwuzurike and McNeill compliment each other, and can you see them as the two starters at DT for the Lions at some point in the next few seasons?
-With their third-round compensatory selection, the Lions selected somebody who I personally expected to go quite a bit higher in CB Ifeatu Melifonwu out of Syracuse. He’s that long, lean, lanky, athletic corner most NFL teams prize in the modern NFL. Do you see Melifonwu capturing the starting CB spot opposite Jeff Okudah at some point this season?
- Bears
-The Bears arguably came away with not only the biggest steal of the 2021 NFL Draft, but a steal that can be THE most pivotal move in the history of the franchise as they traded up to snatch a potential superstar franchise QB in Justin Fields. Unlike most clubs in the NFL, most on Draft Twitter had Fields as the second-best QB in the draft solely behind Trevor Lawrence. And I agreed with that sentiment because in my view, Fields had the highest ceiling and highest floor out of all the non-Trevor Lawrence QB’s. On my draft livestream, I said that Justin Fields just might be the best QB in Chicago Bears history already, even though he’s yet to throw a pass. What makes Justin Fields so special, and exactly how high would you consider both his floor and ceiling to be? If Justin Fields wins the Week 1 starting job in training camp and preseason, should the Bears trade Andy Dalton, especially if he will get more value in return than Nick Foles would?
-In the second round, the Bears traded up again to get Justin Fields some protection in Teven Jenkins, who is the quintessential “bouncer in a nightclub” offensive lineman. I was hoping the Bears planned on him playing RT opposite Charles Leno, but shortly after the draft, the Bears released Leno and said Teven Jenkins will be playing LT this season. Most draft analysts I really trust believe Jenkins is better suited to play RT or guard in the NFL than left tackle. How concerned are you about the Bears plan for him?
-One of my favorite day three picks for the Bears was CB Thomas Graham, Jr. out of Oregon. It is VERY important for everyone to know that the Bears are essentially returning to the Vic Fangio playbook on defense this season with the promotion of Sean Desai to defensive coordinator, a move that was recommended to the Bears by Fangio himself. Graham is the vintage CB for a Fangio scheme given his instincts in zone coverage and ball skills. Do you see him starting at that slot corner spot at some point this season?
- Vikings
-The main need for the Vikings in this draft was to address their offensive line, and they did just that, with Virginia Tech OT Christian Darrisaw in the first round and Ohio State G Wyatt Davis in the third round. Was getting those two guys better than staying put at 14 and taking Alijah Vera-Tucker instead? Given those two additions, how much better is the Vikings OL compared to last season?
- Jets
-A month and a half before the draft, everyone was saying that the Jets would take Zach Wilson with the second overall pick, and that’s exactly what they did. Personally, I would have taken either Justin Fields or Trey Lance ahead of Wilson, but you’re a better evaluator of game tape than I am and you had Zach Wilson as the best of the three “non-Trevor Lawrence” QB’s in the draft. Why was Zach Wilson the right choice for the Jets to bet their long-term future on?
-With their second first-round picks the Jets moved up nine spots and surrendered both of their third-round picks to select USC G Alijah Vera-Tucker. The night before the draft, I told someone that the Jets dream haul on Day 1 would be the QB of their choice (which was obviously Zach Wilson) and Vera-Tucker…and the dream came true. Still, some people I respect absolutely RIDICULED the Jets for surrendering both of their third-rounders to get somebody at a position that’s not as highly valued. Why are those folks dead wrong?
-In the second-round, the Jets arguably came away with an absolute STEAL in Ole Miss WR Elijah Moore. Most people in the league had him as the third or fourth-best WR in this draft didn’t think he would fall that far. When this pick was made, I immediately had a metaphorical orgasm imagining an 11-personnel package with Moore in the slot and Denzel Mims and Corey Davis on the boundary. Do you think Moore beats out Jamison Crowder for that WR3 role in training camp?
- Patriots
-With their first-round pick, the Patriots selected who they hope will be their QB of the future in Mac Jones. I absolutely did not buy the buzz that the 49ers would draft such a limited QB after giving up such a fortune to move up. If you listen to some folks on Draft Twitter, signal-callers of Mac Jones’ prototype are going the way of the dodo in the NFL. Why do you think the Patriots spent a super-high pick on such a QB and do you expect him to start over Cam Newton at some point this season?
-On Day 2, the Patriots double-dipped on their defensive front. In the second round, they traded up to take Alabama DT Christian Barmore and they got very good value in the late third round with Ronnie Perkins out of Oklahoma. So you add Perkins to make a three-man pass rushing rotation off the edge with Matt Judon and Chase Winovich. You now add Barmore, who can push the pocket from the inside along with Deatrich Wise. Is this the scariest group of pass rushers Bill Belichick has had in quite a while?
- Dolphins
-The Dolphins kicked off their draft by reuniting Tua Tagovailoa with the most explosive weapon he had at Alabama in Jaylen Waddle. As special a talent as Waddle is, some criticized the Dolphins for trading back to 12 and then subsequently back up to 6 to take somebody they didn’t view as an equal talent to either Kyle Pitts or Ja’Marr Chase. How big, in your view, was the drop-off in talent from Pitts and Chase to Waddle…or was there any drop-off at all?
-With their second first-round pick, the Dolphins made Jaelan Phillips the first edge rusher off the board. Many people around the league reportedly considered Phillips to not only be the best pass rusher in this class, but the best defensive player in this class. They added that he probably would’ve been a top-10 pick if it wasn’t for his alarming injury history. Do you share that view?
- Broncos
-In a move that will be scrutinized indefinitely, the Broncos, like the Panthers and Lions before them, decided to pass on Justin Fields and instead used their first-round pick on Alabama CB Patrick Surtain II. Despite the metaphorical black eye that could result from this decision, Surtain is a high-floor/high-ceiling prospect. Based on the numbers he put up at his Pro Day, he profiles very similarly to Derwin James athletically. Just how high is Patrick Surtain’s ceiling? The Broncos have a pretty crowded corner room right now with Bryce Callahan, Kyle Fuller, and Ronald Darby. And yesterday, Vic Fangio said he plans to try Surtain out on the boundary and in the slot. Does he start Week 1, and if so, at which spot?
-Just like his former team did in 2017 with Dalvin Cook, George Paton traded up a few spots in the second round to take a RB in Javonte Williams from North Carolina. Williams was considered to be THE best RB in this draft by Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield. Many believe you shouldn’t draft a running back in the draft until day three unless that back is an extra special talent. What makes Javonte Williams such a talent and do you see him eventually surpassing Melvin Gordon as the guy in the Broncos backfield this season?
-In the third round, the Broncos traded back twice and got both of the Saints compensatory picks. They spent the second one of those picks on Ohio State LB Baron Browning. Browning was viewed MUCH highly on Draft Twitter than in the NFL, in large part due to the fact of the uncertainty of what position to play him at. While the Broncos intend to try him out at ILB first, some think he can be a very good pass rusher of the EDGE. At which spot do YOU believe is Baron Browning’s best possible bet for success in the NFL?
- Chargers
-The Chargers began the draft with one of those potential steals as Rashawn Slater fell into their lap at 13 overall. I believe one of the reasons why he fell is that many, if not most in the NFL see him as a better fit at guard than at tackle. Daniel Jeremiah also said he would be a Zach Martin All Pro-level kind of player inside. That said, his responsibility from the start will be protecting Justin Herbert’s blindside at LT. How good (or great) can Rashawn Slater be at tackle for the Chargers?
-In the second round at 47 overall, the Chargers perhaps got an even bigger steal with Asante Samuel, Jr. He is arguably a spitting image of his All Pro father (Asante Sr.) with his impressive ball skills, physicality, and click-and-close ability. He’s arguably the most tailor-made cornerback for Brandon Staley’s defense. How special can he be in this system? Can he be as good as a boundary corner and a slot corner despite his height?
-With the first of their two third-round picks, the Chargers picked WR Josh Palmer of Tennessee. Eric Galko, the new director of the East/West Shrine Game, considered him a top-10 WR in the draft. Your colleague at MHH Erick Trickel was also a big fan of Palmer’s. Do you see Josh Palmer becoming the Chargers third WR in 11 personnel packages at some point this season?
- Raiders
-Several people, myself included, accused the Raiders of a massive reach with their selection of Alabama OT Alex Leatherwood with the 17th overall pick. However, most of us thought they reached on Kolton Miller in 2018, and now Miller is an above-average NFL left tackle who just got rewarded with a healthy extension. As flawed as Leatherwood is, he is far more polished coming into the NFL than Kolton Miller was. Do you think Alex Leatherwood proves those naysayers wrong as well?
- Bengals Draft Class
-The Bengals ignored the advice we gave them on our Dash To The Draft AFC North Preview show and went with Ja’Marr Chase over Penei Sewell. That said, you can’t deny Ja’Marr Chase is a pretty special prospect and aside from his established chemistry with Joe Burrow, what does he bring to the Bengals WR room that Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd lack?
-With their second round selection, the Bengals invested in additional protection for Joe Burrow. That said, many believe they reached by taking Jackson Carman, who may have protected Trevor Lawrence’s blindside at Clemson, but projects far better at guard at the NFL level. What do you think of Jackson Carman based on his film, and does he improve the Bengals offensive line even slightly?
-In the third round, the Bengals addressed the defensive front with their selection of edge rusher/LB Joseph Ossai out of Texas. In free agency, the Bengals pass rush was downgraded, in the views of some, by losing Carl Lawson to the Jets and throwing big money to Trey Hendrickson to replace him. Did the Bengals make up for that supposed mistake by taking Ossai?
- Steelers
-As everybody expected, the Steelers selected RB Najee Harris out of Alabama with the 24th overall pick. With Big Ben on his last legs and arguably the worst pass protecting offensive line in the entire NFL, is it hyperbole to suggest that Najee Harris will be the straw that stirs the drink for the Steelers offense in 2021?
-With their second round pick, the Steelers kept Penn State TE Pat Freiermuth in Pennsylvania. Several guests on this podcast during the pre-draft process lauded Freiermuth’s blocking. Do you share that view and if so, do you see him being mostly utilized as that “sixth OL” this season due to the Steelers aforementioned issues at tackle?
- Browns
-The Browns kicked off their impressive draft haul by filling that gaping hole at corner opposite Denzel Ward with Greg Newsome II out of Northwestern. Many had Newsome as the third best corner in this draft, and some even had him as THE best corner in this draft. Were you a big fan of his during the pre-draft process and how lethal of a duo can he and Denzel Ward be?
-In the second round, the Browns traded up seven spots to stop the slide of our man Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. He fell in part due to a heart issue, but another reason why he fell is because of the uncertainty of how to utilize him. You said on our Dash To The Draft LB class special that JOK is mainly a box safety. However, given the lack of athleticism the Browns had at linebacker pre-draft, it is widely assumed the Browns will try him out there. What is the best way, in your view, for Browns DC Joe Woods to get the utmost out of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah if they do indeed play him at linebacker as opposed to box safety?
- Ravens
-With the first of their two first-round picks, the Ravens FINALLY selected a legit WR1 in Rashod Bateman. That said, the Ravens don’t have the best track record when it comes to drafting and developing first-round WR’s. Can Bateman buck that trend, and does he give Lamar Jackson what he needs to take that crucial next step as a passer?
-In the first-round pick they got from the Chiefs in the Orlando Brown trade, the Ravens addressed the massive hole they had at EDGE with Penn State’s Odafe Oweh. Oweh was one of the freakiest athletes in this draft class, but his production in college was scant. Nonetheless, there was somebody named Danielle Hunter who had those same two basic things on his resume coming in and he went on to become a top-5 pass rusher. Of course, setting that as the base line of expectations for Oweh is foolish, but if there is any club that can help him reach his super high ceiling, it is the Ravens and DC Don “Wink” Martindale. Can you see Oweh becoming a Pro Bowl-level player in Baltimore?
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Barring an unprecedented last minute surprise, the Jets are heavily expected to take BYU QB Zach Wilson with the #2 overall pick. Some respected voices on Draft Twitter, however, believe the Jets are making a mistake by taking Zach Wilson over Justin Fields. Do you share that view? And if you do, for the sake of playing Devil’s Advocate, why do you think the Jets love Wilson more?
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Speaking of Justin Fields, it may be the worst kept secret in the NFL that Bill Belichick has the hots for the Ohio State QB. It just seems inevitable to many, including myself, he will make a move up the board to either seven or eight and take him. Should these assumptions come to fruition, does Justin Fields immediately make the Patriots AFC East contenders again?
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The Miami Dolphins have a pretty tough decision at the sixth overall spot. As Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network reported, they are debating between Jaylen Waddle and Penei Sewell. Although the Dolphins SORELY need more playmakers and the temptation to reunite Tua Tagovailoa with one of his favorite college targets is understandable, the Dolphins offensive line isn’t in a pretty situation either, especially at tackle. Furthermore, they unloaded Ereck Flowers to Washington today and it was reported they plan to kick Robert Hunt inside to guard. And given the fact that Tua isn’t even two years removed from that freakish hip injury, the incentive to keep him upright may be higher than that to give him another weapon. What would you do if you were Chris Grier and Brian Flores?
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When it comes to the Bills, they have their eyes on two needs early in the draft, EDGE and RB. Yesterday, Todd McShay reported that the Bills may be eyeing a trade up to the early 20’s to take a running back. And that makes sense to me given the fact most around the NFL expect the Steelers to select Alabama’s Najee Harris at 24, should he be available. In the grander scheme of things, however, I am 100% against taking a running back in the first round. But to play Devil’s Advocate, I can understand the Bills thinking here because after the first three RB’s (Harris, Travis Etienne and Javonte Williams), there’s a steep dropoff. Whereas at EDGE, it is a much deeper class and you can get someone of good quality on day two. What should the Bills top priority be in your view?
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Jets Mock Draft
-1 (2): Zach Wilson
-1 (23): Alijah Vera-Tucker
-2 (34): Javonte Williams
-3 (66): Joseph Ossai
-3 (86): Paulson Adebo
- Patriots Mock Draft
-1 (15): Trey Lance
-2 (46): Asante Samuel, Jr.
-3 (96): Divine Deablo
- Dolphins Mock Draft
-1 (6): Penei Sewell
-1 (18): Rashod Bateman
-2 (36): Najee Harris
-2 (50): Carlos Basham
-3 (81): Chazz Surratt
- Bills Mock Draft
-1 (30): Jayson Oweh
-2 (61): Dyami Brown
-3 (93): Jay Tufele
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It is a VERY exciting time to be a Jacksonville Jaguars fan. Not only do the Jaguars possess the #1 overall pick in the draft (which they will use to select Trevor Lawrence, arguably the most coveted QB prospect since Andrew Luck), they have four picks in the top-50 alone. Should the Jags get two immediate contributors to go alongside Trevor Lawrence in this draft, could they contend for a wild card playoff spot (if not the AFC South title) this season?
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Trevor Lawrence’s recent interview with Sports Illustrated’s Michael Rosenberg has drawn quite some scrutiny. I personally disagree that the comments Lawrence himself made were a red flag, but if there was one small concern I had from Rosenberg’s piece, it was Joey King, Trevor Lawrence’s high school football coach, saying that Trevor Lawrence would “be fine” if he quit playing football tomorrow. If you’re the Jaguars, how much of a red flag, if any, would Coach King’s comments raise?
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The Houston Texans not only have the worst roster in the entire NFL right now, they are arguably THE worst run franchise in all of pro sports. And another painful symbol that reflects both distinctions is them only having one pick in the entire top-100 in this draft…and it’s a pick that does not happen until early in the third round at 67 overall. What would be the most optimal way for first-year GM Nick Caserio and rookie head coach David Culley to approach this draft?
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When it comes to the Colts, they are a team that is not particularly great at one single thing, but very good at many (if not) most things. They are rolling the dice on Carson Wentz to help them take the next big step forward, but they need help elsewhere as well. What should the Colts main priorities be in the draft?
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As far as the Titans are concerned, most mock drafts have them addressing that gaping hole at edge rusher in the first round. That said, the Titans passing attack took a bit of a hit in free agency with the departure of Jonnu Smith and Corey Davis. Do you think the Titans will seriously consider an offensive playmaker at 22, or do you think it’s pretty much “EDGE or bust” for them?
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Jaguars Mock Draft
-1 (1): Trevor Lawrence
-1 (25): Alijah Vera-Tucker
-2 (33): Terrace Marshall, Jr.
-2 (45): Pat Freiermuth
-3 (65): Richie Grant
- Texans Mock Draft
-3 (67): Tyson Campbell
- Colts Mock Draft
-1 (21): Kwity Paye
-2 (54): Jalen Mayfield
- Titans Mock Draft
-1 (22): Samuel Cosmi
-2 (53): Asante Samuel, Jr.
-3 (85): Tylan Wallace
-3 (100): Patrick Jones II
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The Lions begin yet another different regime with new GM Brad Holmes and new head coach Dan Campbell. And this roster has tons of pressing needs from top to bottom. So, the Lions have quite a difficult decision to make with that 7th overall pick. Given the unprecedented amount of uncertainty surrounding this draft, should they trade down and add even more future picks to their arsenal? Or if the last of the top four QB’s falls in their lap, do they stay put and take that QB and have him spend a year behind Jared Goff? And what if Penei Sewell and/or Ja’Marr Chase some how make it to seven? What should the plan of attack be for Campbell and Holmes?
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This is a make or break year for Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer. And the Vikings have an OL and a defense in urgent need of upgrades. Which of those two areas should they prioritize with the 14th overall pick?
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If you think Spielman and Zimmer are facing such a make or break season, Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy are yelling “hold my beer” in Chicago. Personally, I think both of them should have already been fired. Yet they remain, and there is some buzz that the Bears are eyeing a move up the board. And it may not only be a QB they may be targeting in such a trade up. They may also be eyeing a tackle. If Penei Sewell and/or Rashawn Slater fall to 8 or 9 and neither the Panthers nor Broncos are able to move up for the last of the “big four” QB’s, would it be wise for the Bears to trade all the way up to get one of the top two OT’s? It might not be far fetched given that the Panthers and Broncos would highly consider moving down in such a situation
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Last season, the Packers made it to the doorstep of the Super Bowl no thanks whatsoever to their 2020 draft haul. In order for them to get over the hump in 2021, should they draft more immediate impact players than long-term projects? If so, at what positions could they use an instant boost?
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Lions Mock Draft
-1 (7): Micah Parsons
-2 (41): Christian Barmore
-3 (72): D’Wayne Eskridge
-3 (101): Walker Little
- Vikings Mock Draft
-1 (14): Alijah Vera-Tucker
-3 (78): Quincy Roche
-3 (90): Andre Cisco
- Bears Mock Draft
-1 (20): Mac Jones
-2 (52): Asante Samuel, Jr.
-3 (83): Stone Forsythe
- Packers Mock Draft
-1 (29): Elijah Moore
-2 (62): Jabril Cox
-3 (92): Derrick Barnes
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Given how much Joe Burrow was hit last season plus the multi-ligament knee injury he suffered, many, if not most, believe that it is a no-brainer for the Bengals to take an OT with the fifth overall pick, whether that be Penei Sewell or Rashawn Slater. However, recent buzz has the Bengals going with Joe Burrow’s favorite target at LSU Ja’Marr Chase. In your view, would it be a mistake for the Bengals to pass on the urgent need to protect Joe Burrow with their first round selection?
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The Cleveland Browns have a top-10 NFL roster right now, at least in my opinion. And with them signing Jadeveon Clowney today, it opens up countless doors for them in the first round. They can still go EDGE (given Clowney’s deal is just for this year), but they can also go corner, WR, and as Benjamin Allbright said today, OL (especially considering the fact Jack Conklin’s contract expires after this season). What do you think is the best way for the Browns to start this draft?
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The Ravens also have one of the NFL’s deeper, more complete rosters, but two glaring holes that stand out are the lack of a true go-to wide receiver and the lack of a true lead-dog EDGE pass rusher. If you’re Eric DeCosta, would your number one priority in this draft be to get the former to help Lamar Jackson take that key next step as a passer, or the latter to help your defense?
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On one of our previous episodes in this “Dash To The Draft Divisional Tour”, Cole Thompson mentioned the Steelers as a good fit for Mac Jones. And since this is probably Ben Roethlisberger’s final year in Pittsburgh, it would be prudent for the Steelers to think long and hard about Mac Jones, especially if he falls toward the mid-teens, which is very possible. If that scenario does come to pass, do you think the Steelers should try to trade up in front of Washington, who also is reportedly interested in Mac Jones?
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Bengals Mock Draft
-1 (5): Penei Sewell
-2 (38): Rondale Moore
-3 (69): Payton Turner
- Browns Mock Draft
-1 (26): Caleb Farley
-2 (59): Jalen Mayfield
-3 (89): Tylan Wallace
-3 (91): Jay Tufele
- Ravens Mock Draft
-1 (27): Zaven Collins
-2 (58): Carlos Basham, Jr.
-3 (104): Andre Cisco
- Steelers Mock Draft
-1 (24): Samuel Cosmi
-2 (55): Asante Samuel, Jr.
-3 (87): Khalil Herbert
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With the first two picks essentially in sharpie (Trevor Lawrence to the Jaguars and Zach Wilson to the Jets), the 49ers will essentially begin this draft with the third overall pick, a selection for which they paid a heavy price to move up to. While we cannot be 100% certain which QB will be their choice (and we will get to Trey Lance and Justin Fields shortly), you and I seem to be in agreement that all the buzz around Mac Jones being the pick is a bunch of hooey. And one of the main tealeaves that gives me confidence that is the case is Benjamin Allbright’s report that several people in the 49ers organization believe Jimmy Garoppolo cost them Super Bowl LIV. And mortgaging your future to replace Garoppolo with essentially Andy Dalton 2.0 would be one of the dumbest moves in modern NFL history. What message do you have to 49ers fans and football fans everywhere who are still buying into the Mac Jones hype?
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To me at least, in terms of whom the Niners actually do pick at three, it is a tossup between Justin Fields and Trey Lance. John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan will likely get to spend some quality time with both prospects at their “second” pro days, with Fields tomorrow and Lance this coming Monday. Shortly after the Niners made that blockbuster trade, you tweeted “Lance or Fields at 3. I do not care.” Do you really think Kyle Shanahan can’t go wrong with either of them, and if so, why?
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This is a make-or-break year for Kliff Kingsbury, Kyler Murray and the Cardinals…and we can tell that they know it because of the signing of J.J. Watt and the trade for Rodney Hudson. That said, Arizona only has two picks in the first three rounds. What are their most important areas of need to address with those two picks?
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Ever since their heartbreaking loss in Super Bowl XLIX, the Seahawks have become a stagnant franchise. And even though he remains in the fold, at least for this upcoming season, it is clear that Russell Wilson is frustrated with the lack of progress the Seahawks have been making these past few years. And due in part to the Jamal Adams trade, the Seahawks only have THREE draft picks this year, including just one in the first three rounds. If you’re John Schneider and Pete Carroll, how do you make the most out of these draft picks? Do you trade back from 56 overall multiple times before making your first selection?
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Despite having made no picks in the first round since 2016 (a streak that will likely continue through 2023), the Los Angeles Rams may currently have the best possible roster, at least at the moment on paper, to dethrone the Bucs in the NFC, especially after the acquisition of Matthew Stafford. That said, there are a lot of short and long-term concerns on that offensive line and given Stafford’s injury history, do you think the Rams should highly consider double-dipping at OL with their day two picks?
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49ers Mock Draft
-1 (3): Trey Lance
-2 (43): Joe Tryon
-3 (102): Andre Cisco
- Cardinals Mock Draft
-1 (16): Greg Newsome II
-2 (49): Pat Freiermuth
- Seahawks Mock Draft
-2 (56): Carlos Basham, Jr.
- Rams Mock Draft
-2 (57): Brady Christensen
-3 (88): Payton Turner
-3 (103): Dylan Moses
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Just three years after winning Super Bowl LII, the Philadelphia Eagles appear to be in full rebuild mode. They have a very good chance at owning three first-round picks next year because of the Carson Wentz trade, and the trade with the Dolphins that saw them go from the 6th overall pick to the 12th. As a result, some believe the Eagles are 100% out on taking a QB in the first round. That said, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported over the weekend that many around the NFL still expect the Eagles to select a QB at some point in the draft. And we all know Howie Roseman has a penchant for making bold trades. Given all that, would you be surprised if the Eagles decided to use all the draft capital they’ve accumulated to trade back into the top-10 if a certain QB falls past the top-five?
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When it comes to the Cowboys, most expect them to go defense early, particularly at cornerback. However, you also just paid a fortune to Dak Prescott and that once-heralded offensive line isn’t what it used to be. Travis Frederick has retired and Tyron Smith is aging and breaking down. IF Penei Sewell and/or Rashawn Slater are available at 10 (possible, but unlikely), would you prioritize them over any defender if you were Jerry Jones?
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Joe Judge is quietly building a solid program with the Giants. They have a pretty stout defense and the addition of Kenny Golladay in free agency gives them a very promising stable of offensive weapons, especially if Saquon Barkley stays out of the trainer’s room. That said, how the Giants fare this season will almost entirely depend on whether Daniel Jones (or as we call him on this podcast, “Steely Dan”), takes a big leap forward. At 11 overall, do you think the Giants should address the main weakness left on their defense (EDGE) or potentially add another weapon to help Daniel Jones, especially if either Jaylen Waddle or Devonta Smith fall?
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Recent buzz has the Washington Football Team as a top candidate (if not THE top candidate) to make a huge move up the board for a QB. However, let’s say Trey Lance and Justin Fields don’t fall far enough for them to pull the trigger, yet Mac Jones slips past the top-10. Should they move up to secure him in that scenario, especially if they believe he can stabilize their QB situation for at least the next 5-7 seasons?
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Eagles Mock Draft
-1 (12): Devonta Smith
-2 (37): Nick Bolton
-3 (70): Richie Grant
-3 (84): Spencer Brown
- Cowboys Mock Draft
-1 (10): Kyle Pitts
-2 (44): Jevon Holland
-3 (75): Tyson Campbell
-3 (99): James Hudson
- Giants Mock Draft
-1 (11): Alijah Vera-Tucker
-2 (42): Joseph Ossai
-3 (76): Pete Werner
- Washington Mock Draft
-1 (19): Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
-2 (51): Pat Freiermuth
-3 (74): Walker Little
-3 (82): Tyree Gillespie
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Even before new GM George Paton arrived, the Broncos have quietly built a very promising young roster with talent on both sides of the ball. That said, the QB position remains a glaring hole of uncertainty five years after Peyton Manning rode off into the sunset. Based on the sample size so far, it would take the utmost of miracles for Drew Lock to become a franchise signal-caller. But based on where they currently sit at #9 overall, the only possible way for the Broncos to find a potential long-term answer at QB in this draft is to trade up. If they are unable to do so, should they trade back from nine and start to build a long-term war chest of draft capital so they can go after a QB in one of the next 2 or 3 drafts?
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When it comes to the Chargers, this draft should be about building around their new franchise QB Justin Herbert. They began in free agency by upgrading their OL, most notably by signing Corey Linsley. That said, they still have some issues at tackle and the weapons around Herbert may be very good, but not as great as the ones the Chiefs have. Therein lies their dilemma in the first round. Do you prioritize the offensive line or the skill position weaponry if you’re Tom Telesco and Brandon Staley?
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In two years of the Mike Mayock/Jon Gruden partnership, their draft classes, at least so far, have been underwhelming to put it kindly. Do you think this is a make-or-break draft for Mayock and/or Gruden?
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As Super Bowl LV demonstrated, no matter how great your QB is, football is won up front. After their patchwork OL got manhandled by the Bucs, the Chiefs have focused like a laser beam on improving their offensive line as they signed G Joe Thuney to a mega-deal in free agency plus getting Kyle Long out of retirement. However, due to the double release of Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, their tackle situation is currently one of the worst in the league, at least on paper with the unproven Lucas Niang and Super Bowl turnstile Mike Remmers the projected starters. Do you believe it’s OT or bust for Kansas City in round one?
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Broncos Mock Draft
-1 (9): Justin Fields
-2 (40): Baron Browning
-3 (71): Spencer Brown
- Chargers Mock Draft
-1 (13): Christian Darrisaw
-2 (47): Alex Leatherwood
-3 (77): Jamar Johnson
-3 (97): Jordan Smith
- Raiders Mock Draft
-1 (17): Teven Jenkins
-2 (48): Creed Humphrey
-3 (79): Quincy Roche
-3 (80): Tyson Campbell
- Chiefs Mock Draft
-1 (31): Dillon Radunz
-2 (63): Jevon Holland
-3 (94): Stone Forsythe
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The draft arguably begins at #4 overall with the Atlanta Falcons. And they are sending mixed signals as to what their intentions are. Chris Mortensen reported that they may have their eyes on selecting Matt Ryan’s long-term replacement and the apple of new GM Terry Fontenot’s eye is believed to be Trey Lance. On the other hand, Adam Schefter reported today that the Falcons have received calls for the #4 overall pick and are open to moving down. Do you believe the Falcons best course of action is to either stay put and take a QB or trade down, with no Plan C?
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Yesterday, the Panthers acquired QB Sam Darnold from the Jets in exchange for a sixth-rounder this year, and second and fourth-round picks in 2022. Moreover, they are also expected to pick up the fifth-year option on Darnold’s contract. Do you still see the Panthers trying to move up the board to draft a QB, or can we pretty much rule out QB in round one for Carolina?
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This is the first draft for the Saints in the post-Brees era. They would obviously need a miracle for a QB to fall into their laps in the first round. Given the overall strength of the rest of their roster, what should their basic plan of attack be for this draft?
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Should the Bucs prioritize drafting players that can make an immediate impact this season or players who can turn into franchise cornerstones in 2-3 years even if they need to “redshirt” this season?
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Falcons Mock Draft
-1 (4): Trey Lance
-2 (35): Liam Eichenberg
-3 (68) Carlos Basham
- Panthers Mock Draft
-1 (8): Justin Fields
-2 (39): Levi Onwuzurike
-3 (73): Spencer Brown
- Saints Mock Draft
-1 (28): Caleb Farley
-2 (60): Amon-Ra St. Brown
-3 (98): Jordan Smith
-3 (105): Kellen Mond
- Buccaneers Mock Draft
-1 (32): Christian Barmore
-2 (64): Elijah Molden
-3 (95): Michael Carter
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How long have you been a football fan and what (or who) inspired you to work in the sports industry?
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How did you get your start in the business and how did you get from then until now?
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This has been a monumental year for women in both sports and the non-sports world alike. We witnessed the election of the first woman Vice President of the United States (Kamala Harris), the first woman to play in Power Five conference college football game (Sarah Fuller of Wake Forest), the first woman to officiate in a Super Bowl (Sarah Thomas), and the first full-time female NFL coaches to win a Super Bowl (Lori Locust and Maral Javadifar). In terms of the NFL, what will be the next glass ceiling to be shattered (first female GM?, head coach?, player?)
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You have a rather impressive list of clients, and one that stands out to me is Shelby Harris, who has played DT/DE for my Denver Broncos these past four seasons. Based on your experience working with him, what kind of person is he? Do you have an initial guess as to where he’ll end up in free agency?
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With Super Bowl LV officially in the books, many of us are already in draft season mode. Are you currently working with any of the prospects that have declared for the 2021 NFL Draft?
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What does your schedule in the weeks leading up to free agency look like?
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Many people I know (if not most) believe that you should NEVER draft a running back in the first round, regardless of the talent. Do you agree or disagree with that school of thought?
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Two RB’s that have a shot at going in the first round are Najee Harris of Alabama and Travis Etienne of Clemson. It’s a neck-and-neck race between them in terms of who is the top runner in this class. You currently have Etienne ranked above Harris. What is your reasoning for that ranking? Just for the sake of playing Devil’s Advocate, why do you think many people rank Harris as the best of the two?
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Something that goes against the grain in your RB rankings is you having Kenneth Gainwell of Memphis as the third best back of the bunch. Gainwell hopes to continue the promising trend of recent Memphis RB’s finding success in the NFL (Tony Pollard and Antonio Gibson to be exact). However, he’s only 195 pounds and Lance Zierlein of NFL.com sees his role in the NFL as merely a change-of-pace back. Moreover, an NFC scouting director told Zierlein that he’s not certain Gainwell’s skill-set will translate to the NFL “if he doesn’t find a scheme that keeps him in space.” Do you think Gainwell can be more than what Zierlein and that anonymous scouting director project him to be and if so, why?
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Kenneth Gainwell wasn’t the only thing that was outside the box in your RB rankings. There’s a near-universal consensus that North Carolina’s Javonte Williams is the best running back in the draft outside of Etienne and Harris. However, you have his teammate Michael Carter, who stood out at the Senior Bowl, ahead of him. Why is Carter the better back of the Tar Heel twosome in your view?
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Buy or Sell
-Trey Sermon: Buy
-Khalil Herbert: HOLD
-Larry Rountree: Sell
-Kylin Hill: Buy
-Jermar Jefferson: BUY
-Jaret Patterson: Sell
-Chuba Hubbard: Sell
- Best Team Fits
-Travis Etienne: Buccaneers
-Najee Harris: Dolphins
-Kenneth Gainwell: Cowboys
-Javonte Williams: Steelers
-Michael Carter: Patriots
-Trey Sermon: Bears, Chiefs
-Khalil Herbert: Chargers, Saints
-Larry Rountree: Lions
-Kylin Hill: Broncos
-Jermar Jefferson: Giants
-Jaret Patterson: Ravens
-Chuba Hubbard: Bills
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The consensus top interior OL prospect in this class is Alijah Vera-Tucker from USC. We discussed him on our OT special, and Nick Kendell of MileHighHuddle.com said he doesn’t see a place at tackle for Vera-Tucker at the pro level. When it comes to his prospects at guard, Dane Brugler believes Alijah Vera-Tucker has Pro Bowl potential. Would it surprise you if Vera-Tucker becomes the best guard in the NFL not named Quenton Nelson within the next 2-4 years?
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Arguably the biggest riser up draft boards since January has been the man with the coolest midriff in America, Quinn Meinerz, center out of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Today, Daniel Jeremiah released his third Top 50 list, and he had Meinerz at 44. And this draft journey, at least so far, gives me flashbacks to when another small-school guard who, like Meinerz, saw his stock begin to skyrocket after dominating at the Senior Bowl. That small-school guard I’m talking about is Ali Marpet, currently with the Bucs and arguably a top 5 player at his position. Are you bullish on Quinn Meinerz, and if so, can you see him achieving similar success in the pro game as Ali Marpet?
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Landon Dickerson of Alabama is another prospect with rock solid game tape, yet a medical history that’s very troublesome. He started out at Florida State in 2016, and missed 25 of 38 games over three seasons down there. After transferring to Alabama, he started 24 straight games until tearing his ACL in the 2020 SEC Championship game. Since it is harder than ever for NFL clubs to obtain accurate medical information due to COVID-19, how far do you see Dickerson falling, and when at the earliest does his talent warrant consideration?
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In 2019, there was a lot of first-round buzz surrounding Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey, yet he decided to return to school for his senior year. Then, we saw his draft stock fall during the season, yet it has come back up a bit in recent weeks, as evidenced by him cracking the top-50 in Dane Brugler’s latest rankings. Do you think Creed Humphrey made the wrong decision (and potentially lose money) by returning to school?
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One of the fascinating things about not only this iOL class, but this OL class in general, is the amount of position versatility and varied projections when it comes to several prospects. Three prospects we discussed on the last show: Alabama’s Alex Leatherwood, Oklahoma State’s Teven Jenkins, and Michigan’s Jalen Mayfield, are seen as better fits at guard by several. How do you like the chances of each of those guys to succeed at guard if need be?
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Buy or Sell
-Wyatt Davis: Buy
-Deonte Brown: Sell
-Jackson Carman: Buy
-Trey Smith: Sell
-Ben Cleveland: Sell
-Aaron Banks: Buy
-Josh Myers: Buy
-Kendrick Green: Buy
-Michael Menet: Sell
- Best Team Fits
-Alijah Vera-Tucker: Vikings, Chargers
-Landon Dickerson: Dolphins
-Quinn Meinerz: Titans
-Creed Humphrey: Dolphins
-Wyatt Davis: Vikings, Lions
-Deonte Brown: Bengals
-Jackson Carman: Packers
-Trey Smith: Seahawks
-Ben Cleveland: Cowboys
-Aaron Banks: 49ers
-Josh Myers: Steelers
-Kendrick Green: Buccaneers, Bengals
-Michael Menet:
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Before we get to this OT class, let’s discuss the earthquake that shook the NFL a few days ago. And that earthquake was a blockbuster trade in which the Dolphins traded the #3 overall pick in the draft to the 49ers for the 12th overall pick (which Miami subsequently traded to the Eagles), first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 (the former of which the Dolphins also traded to Philly), and a third-round pick in 2022. It is clear that Kyle Shanahan wants his long-term answer at QB, especially one on a rookie deal that will extend the Super Bowl window of this extremely talented 49ers roster. And it is all but certain that the first two picks in the draft will be Trevor Lawrence at #1 to the Jaguars and Zach Wilson at #2 to the Jets. This means that the 49ers will be choosing between Justin Fields and Trey Lance at #3. If you were Kyle Shanahan, which of those two QB’s would you select, and why?
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Around this time last year, many people were saying that Penei Sewell would be the “can’t-miss” prospect in the 2021 class a la Chase Young in 2020. However, I’ve come across some that say that as freakishly talented as Sewell is, he is FAR from a sure thing and there were some rumors that have him falling outside the top-nine. What are your thoughts on Penei Sewell and why do you think some aren’t as high on him?
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The OT prospect some have ranked above Penei Sewell is Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater. He’s a freak athlete who did a PHENOMENAL job against Chase Young in 2019. Another big reason to be bullish on him is that he can play ANY of the five offensive line positions. Many believe Slater is a much better fit at guard given his lack of length. However, our friend Jordan Reid at The Draft Network believes Slater must be tried out at tackle first and only be moved to guard if he proves he can’t survive on the outside. Do you agree or disagree with Jordan’s assessment?
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A prospect in a pretty similar predicament as Rashawn Slater is Alijah Vera-Tucker out of USC. Like Slater, many view Vera-Tucker as a relatively safe prospect. He put two outstanding years of film in both at guard and this past year, at tackle. Although the consensus is that he is a much better fit inside, do you think there’s a place for him at tackle in the NFL?
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Another OT prospect that you are rather high on personally is Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw. You went as far to say that he should be considered as an option for the Broncos at #9 overall. And there are several reasons why that should be the case. One is his experience (he started all 34 games he played in college) and the other is his scheme versatility. But as we all know, the tape is the most important part of the equation. What on Christian Darrisaw’s tape make him worthy of a top-15 pick in this draft?
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Eleven years after Russell Okung was the sixth overall pick, Oklahoma State will likely have another OT go in round one, Teven Jenkins. While Jenkins is regarded by many as the best finisher in this OT class, some say his below-average athleticism might force him inside to guard. Where is the best home for Teven Jenkins in the NFL?
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Buy Or Sell
-Jalen Mayfield: Sell at tackle
-Samuel Cosmi: Buy
-Dillon Radunz: Buy
-Liam Eichenberg: Buy (top-50)
-Alex Leatherwood: Buy (top-50)
-James Hudson: Buy in round 3-4
-Walker Little: Buy (mid-day 2)
-Spencer Brown: Buy (round 3)
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Today was the Penn State Pro Day and the consensus #1 linebacker in this draft Micah Parsons blew the roof off the facility with his freakish athleticism, most notably his sub-4.4. 40. But as you know more than anyone else, the tape matters FAR more than a Pro Day for any prospect. Based on the tape alone, why is Parsons the best LB in this draft class?
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But as amazing as Parsons is on the field, he is, to put it mildly, a headache off the field. As my friend Erick Trickel of MileHighHuddle.com noted earlier today, Reuben Foster was considered a top-10 prospect in 2017, and character concerns nearly caused him to fall out of the first round altogether…and the red flags on Parsons are even worse. How far do you see Parsons falling?
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An increasing trend in the NFL these days is that of the so-called “position-less” defender. Last year, we had Isaiah Simmons, who was listed as a linebacker, even though he could also be a safety, part-time EDGE, ad boundary corner. This year, Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is another such prospect. He may be universally listed as a linebacker, but many, including you, don’t see him that way. What is his best role in the NFL and how high will he get drafted because of his versatility?
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Another outstanding LB prospect in this class is Zaven Collins out of Tulsa. He may be 260 pounds, but he moves around MUCH quicker for someone his size, is scheme versatile, and is the ultimate playmaker as he recorded four interceptions, two TD’s, one safety and one forced fumble this year alone. Would you be surprised if he ended up as the best linebacker from this class in the long run?
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The University of Kentucky has sent two solid ‘backers to the NFL in recent years, Wesley Woodyard and Danny Trevathan. And this year, Jamin Davis hopes to add to that lineage. Davis has astronomically risen up draft boards throughout this process. 2020 was his only year as a starter, yet he absolutely broke out, totaling 102 tackles, four TFL’s, 1.5 sacks, 3 INT’s (one for a TD, the other that set up the game-clinching TD for the Wildcats in the Gator Bowl). How does Davis compare to Woodyard and Trevathan as prospects, and do you think he’ll be an even better pro than both?
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Another prospect that has shot up draft boards due to a breakout 2020 campaign is LSU’s Jabril Cox. Cox spent the first three years of his college career at North Dakota State before transferring to LSU this past year, and he did very well down in Baton Rouge, posting 58 tackles, 6.5 TFL, five pass breakups, and three interceptions (one of which was returned for a score). The main issue with him according to Dane Brugler, is his run defense, but do you think his abilities in coverage make him warrant a higher selection given that the NFL is the ultimate pass-happy league now?
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Buy Or Sell
-Nick Bolton: Buy
-Baron Browning: Buy on late Day 2/3, but not early
-Chazz Surratt: Buy
-Cameron McGrone: Buy Day 3
-Dylan Moses: Sell
-Pete Werner: Buy
-Garret Wallow: Buy
- Best Team Fits:
-Micah Parsons: Cowboys, Washington, Dolphins
-Zaven Collins: Vikings
-Jamin Davis: Cardinals, Bucs
-Jabril Cox: Steelers
-Nick Bolton: Patriots, Dolphins, Titans
-Pete Werner: Giants, Packers
-Chazz Surratt: Chargers
-Garret Wallow: Seahawks, Lions
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This has been a rather rough week for one of the top CB prospects in this draft class, Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley. This week, his draft stock may have taken a hit as he underwent a microdisectomy procedure on his back on Tuesday. This is the second back operation he’s had in 15 months (he underwent surgery due to a pinched nerve in his back in December 2019). Many analysts had him as the top corner on their boards prior to this latest news. Even though you weren’t one of those analysts, why do you think so many regarded him that way and still do? Assuming he’ll be ready for training camp, is he still worth a top 15-20 pick in your eyes or should his worrisome history of back problems make him fall further down the board in your opinion?
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The top corner on your board at the moment is the guy who many had running neck-and-neck with Caleb Farley as the top-rated corner in this draft prior to these latest developments, and that is Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II. The son of All Pro CB Patrick Surtain, Sr., Surtain II was arguably THE cornerstone to the 2020 National Championship Crimson Tide’s defense. Moreover, Alabama’s associate DC Charles Kelly compared the younger Surtain to Jalen Ramsey, whom Kelly also coached in college. Do you think Patrick Surtain II can eventually reach the current level of Jalen Ramsey, who is arguably the best corner in the NFL right now?
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As rough as a week as it was for Caleb Farley, this was a fantastic week for South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn. The son of long-time Saints WR Joe Horn, Jaycee absolutely tore it up at the South Carolina Pro Day yesterday, posting strikingly similar numbers to Patrick Surtain II. Does the tantalizing upside Horn offers make him worth a top-15 pick in your view, and would it surprise you if he eventually turns out to be the best corner from this class?
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A corner that is likely shooting up draft boards at the moment is Eric Stokes of Georgia. Stokes may have the best ball skills of any corner in this class (he totaled four interceptions this year, and only allowed a 38.5 percent completion rate when targeted), and he displayed some freakishly athletic traits at the Georgia Pro Day (ran a 4.31 in the 40, and posted a 38.5” vertical). However, he also posted some very concerning numbers in the agility drills (a 6.96 three-cone time, which puts him in the 7thpercentile, and a 4.36 20-yard shuttle time, which puts him in the 9thpercentile). Are those times enough to push him out of the first round entirely in your view?
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This year’s safety crop is rather poor, but it has a consensus name at the top of the list in TCU’s Trevon Moehrig. What makes him the best safety in this class?
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A safety that has seen a pretty meteoric rise up draft boards since he stole the show at the Senior Bowl is Richie Grant of UCF. There is buzz around the league that he could end up as a top-50 pick. Do you think that’s mainly because of the poor depth of this safety class or does his talent warrant such value? If this draft had a more typical group of safeties, where would he go?
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Buy Or Sell
-Greg Newsome (Northwestern): Buy
-Elijah Molden (Washington): Buy
-Kelvin Joseph (Kentucky): Sell
-Tyson Campbell (Georgia): Buy as a sub-package player (early day three)
-Asante Samuel, Jr. (Florida State): Buy
-Jamar Johnson (Indiana): Sell
-Jevon Holland (Oregon): Buy
-Hamsah Nasrildeen (Florida State): Buy
- Best Team Fits
-Caleb Farley: Cowboys, Lions
-Patrick Surtain II: Patriots, 49ers
-Jaycee Horn: Vikings, Chiefs
-Eric Stokes: Seahawks, Jets, 49ers
-Greg Newsome: Broncos
-Asante Samuel, Jr.: Colts
-Elijah Molden: Any zone-heavy team (Chargers, Broncos, Seahawks, Jets, 49ers)
-Trevon Moehrig: Falcons
-Richie Grant: Cardinals, Giants
-Jevon Holland: Lions
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Not only the best pass-catcher in this draft, but arguably the best prospect period, is Florida TE Kyle Pitts. Daniel Jeremiah suggested that Pitts would be the overwhelming choice of folks around the NFL if they had to vote on which 2021 prospect is most likely to don a gold jacket. What makes Kyle Pitts so special and why is he worth a top-five pick despite playing a position that is less valued?
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The WR class was arguably the centerpiece of the entire 2020 draft. Many, if not most, were pegging it as a generational crop. But some believe this year’s WR class could be even better. Do you share that belief, and if so, why?
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The top WR on your board at the moment is the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner himself, Alabama’s Devonta Smith. And I can personally understand why you would have him there since it can be argued he is the best route runner and has the best hands of the bunch. However, some say he isn’t somebody who can absolutely dominate at the pro level and as he said himself today, he only weighs 170 pounds. And if you wanted to find the last WR standing over six-feet tall and weighing less than 180 pounds that was drafted into the NFL, you would have to go all the way back to 2001 when Marvin “Snoop” Minnis was taken by the Chiefs in the third round (that nugget courtesy of our friend Jordan Reid at The Draft Network). What is your message to all those who doubt Smith can make a generational impact in the NFL because of his lack of size and freakish athleticism?
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As the Kansas City Chiefs have shown the league in recent years, speed is an absolute necessity in modern day NFL receiving group. And the best speed receiver in this year’s draft is Devonta Smith’s teammate Jaylen Waddle. Last year, another speedy wideout from Alabama, Henry Ruggs, was the first WR to go off the board. Buzz around the league suggests that scouts and GM’s are higher on Waddle than they were on Ruggs. Why do you think that’s the case and would you be surprised if Waddle is the first receiver off the board?
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LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase is considered to be the best WR prospect in this class by many, including Dane Brugler and Daniel Jeremiah. He was obviously Joe Burrow’s go-to guy during LSU’s national title run in 2019, hauling in 20 TD’s in the process. But above all, it’s his yards after the catch ability and ball skills that make him the ideal prototype for today’s “X” receiver. What are the weaknesses in Ja’Marr Chase’s game that prevent you from ranking him number one on your board?
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After the big three of Smith, Waddle and Chase, there’s a logjam of guys with diverse skill-sets. You have gadget-types like Kadarius Toney of Florida, Allen Robinson/Courtland Sutton-type talents like Terrace Marshall, Jr. of LSU and Rashod Bateman of Minnesota. If you were a GM of a team that had a bare cupboard at WR and had to choose between those three prospects while you were on the clock, who would you choose and why?
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The distant second-fiddler to Kyle Pitts in this year’s TE class is, according to many, Penn State’s Pat Freiermuth. What makes Freiermuth a good consolation prize for a TE-needy team picking in the top 50 that has no shot at Pitts?
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Best Team Fits
-Kyle Pitts: Bengals
-Devonta Smith: Dolphins
-Jaylen Waddle: Lions, Giants
-Ja’Marr Chase: Eagles, Lions
-Kadarius Toney: Packers
-Terrace Marshall, Jr.: Ravens
-Rashod Bateman: Patriots
-Elijah Moore: Bears
-Rondale Moore: Bengals
-Dyami Brown: Vikings
-Pat Freiermuth: Jaguars
-Brevin Jordan: Panthers
-Tre McKitty: Chiefs
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The Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made it clearer than ever that they are hell bent on running it back and repeating. Last week, we saw Chris Godwin receive the franchise tag, Lavonte David sign a 2-year extension and Tom Brady agree to an extension via restructure that cleared $19 million in cap space. And yesterday, minutes after the legal tampering period began, star pass rusher Shaq Barrett re-signed with the team on a four-year deal worth up to $72 million. Just hours later, Gronk re-signed on a one-year deal and the Bucs currently are deep in talks to retain Antonio Brown, Ryan Succop, Ndamukong Suh and Leonard Fournette. At the moment, how do you feel about Tampa’s odds of making it back to the Super Bowl and who do you think is the greatest threat to them in the NFC?
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Arguably the biggest headliner of free agency so far is Tom Brady’s former team, the New England Patriots. As of this morning, according to Adam Schefter, the Patriots have doled out a WHOPPING $137.5 million in guaranteed money, which is the second most in NFL history. Most notably, a bulk of those guarantees went to TE’s Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry, WR’s Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, and pass rusher Matt Judon. Based on these moves, do you think the Patriots have a team that can win the AFC East, or at least make the playoffs as a wild card in 2021? Should the Patriots be eyeing a move up the board on draft night for either Justin Fields or Trey Lance?
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In response to the shellacking they experienced in Super Bowl LV, particularly up front, the Chiefs made the biggest OL move in free agency so far by signing former Patritos All Pro G Joe Thuney to a market-setting five-year, $80 million deal. Last week, they released both of their starting tackles, Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, but the club is very high on last year’s third-round pick Lucas Niang, who had a STELLAR performance against Chase Young in college. For now, looking at the Chiefs potential starting OL for Week 1 of the 2021 season, you’ve got Niang at LT, Thuney and Duvernay-Tardif at G, Austin Reiter at center and a rookie RT who they will likely draft early. While this group may be a downgrade from their 2020 Week 1 starting offensive line, do you think it could eventually represent a dramatic upgrade from the OL MASH unit they trotted out in the Super Bowl?
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Last week, Texans head coach David Culley told Jim Trotter of NFL Network that Deshaun Watson was their QB “right now”, and those two words convinced Trotter and many, including myself, that the Texans will inevitably end up trading him. And today, the Texans signed Tyrod Taylor to a one-year deal that can be worth up to $12.5 million based on playing time and incentives. This shows you the Texans are at LEAST bracing for a LONG holdout from Deshaun Watson. But should they eventually realize a trade is in their best interest, should they make a deal before the draft or in late August before the regular season?
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We are approaching the one-year anniversary of the NFLPA’s ratification of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. It was ratified by a very slim majority thanks in part due to COVID-19. I was STRONGLY opposed to it personally because I don’t think the players got nearly enough in return for the 17th regular season game. How did most of your clients view it then, and how do you view it now?
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Due to the pandemic-related drop in the salary cap, this free agency period promises to be unlike any other. Outside of a few couple dozen big name free agents, we could see the VAST majority of players on the open market settle for one or two-year deals. If you had to make a guess, what percentage of free agents will sign one-year or two-year deals and how many game-changing market setting deals will we see?
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As many NFL fans sadly don’t know, such news headlines that say “Player X signs a five-year, $120 million contract,” are blatantly misleading. The way NFL contracts are constructed, the overall length and total value of a deal aren’t a given. The only main givens are the signing bonus, the amount of money fully guaranteed at signing, and the cash flow in the first three years. If you had a client who made multiple Pro Bowls and the team’s final offer set the market in the latter three metrics, but not the former two, would you be inclined to accept such an offer?
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We are 50 days away from the 2020 NFL Draft. Have any prospects signed up with you or your agency, and if so, whom?
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If the Texans do not trade Deshaun Watson by late August and remain dug in, would you advise Watson to be willing to sit out the entire 2021 season if you were his agent?
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What was the most grueling contract negotiation you went through in order to get the best possible deal for your client?
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When you look at this EDGE class, there are no sure-fire top-10 picks, yet it is ripe with sky-high potential. Two current budding EDGE stars (Brian Burns and Montez Sweat) were selected outside the top-10 in the 2019 draft (Burns at 16 overall, Sweat at 26 overall). Do you anticipate a similar eventual outcome from this year’s class?
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The top EDGE on your board at the moment is Gregory Rousseau of Miami. What makes him such an interesting evaluation is that he only has a four-month sample of college tape since he got hurt after a few snaps in 2018 (his freshman year) and opted out due to COVID-19 this past year. But that four-month sample in 2019 is staggering as he posted 15.5 sacks and earned ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. What makes him the top EDGE on your board right now? How much of a fall down the board, if any, will he experience given his relatively minute sample of game tape?
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You have two other EDGE prospects ranked just slightly behind Rousseau in Michigan’s Kwity Paye and Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari. Both are super-freakish athletic specimens, yet some top analysts believe Paye’s film was underwhelming and that Ojulari needs to add a lot of moves to his rush. If you were a GM and your team ran a defensive scheme that was equally accommodating to the skillsets of both players, which one would you select and why?
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Penn State’s Jayson Oweh is another intriguing EDGE prospect. While he only posted five sacks in his two seasons at Happy Valley, he possesses as much mouth-watering traits as the prospects we mentioned so far. Would you be surprised if he ended up as the best EDGE in this class?
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This defensive line class (specifically defensive tackle) is not a good one this year. The top DT prospect on most analyst boards is Christian Barmore from Alabama. Given the poor depth of the group, is Barmore worth a top-20, if not a top-15 pick in your view?
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The next two DT’s behind Barmore on most analyst boards are Washington’s Levi Onwuzurike and Iowa’s Daviyon Nixon. What do you like/dislike about their games and are any of them worth a late-first round pick?
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Who are some of your late day 2/day 3 sleepers?
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Best Team Fits:
-Gregory Rousseau: Vikings, Colts
-Kwity Paye: Giants
-Azeez Ojulari: Titans
-Jayson Oweh: Dolphins
-Jaelan Phillips: Buccaneers
-Joseph Ossai: Cardinals
-Ronnie Perkins: Rams
-Joe Tryon: Bills, Chiefs
-Christian Barmore: Raiders
-Levi Onwuzurike: Cowboys
-Daviyon Nixon: Buccaneers
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I am as guilty as charged for carelessly saying “this guy is the best QB prospect since Andrew Luck” in the past, which I’m not qualified to do so given my porous film-evaluation skills. However, to say that about Trevor Lawrence may not be hyperbole. What makes Trevor Lawrence such a special, generational prospect? Do you like his fit with Urban Meyer and the Jaguars?
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Almost every year, a QB begins the season as a borderline Day 2/Day 3 selection and eventually skyrockets into the top-five. This year, that prospect is BYU’s Zach Wilson, who many expect to be selected by the New York Jets with the #2 overall pick provided they decide to trade Sam Darnold. Conventional wisdom has it that Wilson is a natural fit for the Shanahan-esque system that new Jets OC Mike LaFleur will be running, but Benjamin Solak strongly disputed that notion in a recent column for The Draft Network. Do you side with Solak or the CW?
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In terms of draft stock, if there’s a QB that is somewhat of an opposite to Zach Wilson, it’s Justin Fields. Fields entered the year as the near-unanimous choice as the 2nd-best QB prospect in this class. But some serious trouble spots in his game were exposed this season, most notably his struggles when his initial target is taken away. And Tony Pauline (Pro Football Network) reported that he is falling down draft boards. What would be the best possible situation for Fields to be in as a rookie?
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It’s hard to believe, but it is pretty likely that for the second time in six years, a North Dakota State QB will be selected in the first round. Although there is concern about Trey Lance’s relatively thin resume (he only started 17 games, including only one in the past 414 days per Peter King), people have praised his poise and decision-making. Why do you think some clubs may have Lance ahead of Justin Fields?
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Another QB garnering first-round discussion is Alabama’s Mac Jones. Jones, however, is a “throwback” pocket passer that many believe is going the way of the dodo. Your colleague Doug Farrar wrote a column that essentially said for that reason alone, he shouldn’t be a first-round pick. But given the high demand and relative lack of supply at QB, Jones may go earlier than many think. When is the earliest point in the draft that you would take a chance on him?
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What QB that is expected to be selected late Day 2 or some time Day 3 is the most likely to outperform his draft value?
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QB Carousel Fits
-Wilson: Panthers
-Lance: 49ers
-Jones: Patriots, Washington, Broncos
-Fields: Falcons
-Stafford: Rams
-Goff: Lions
-Wentz: Colts
-Darnold: Washington
-Wilson: Bears
-Watson: Dolphins, 49ers
- Super Bowl LV Recap
-Was this more of an awesome performance by the Bucs, just sheer luck given the circumstances Mahomes and the Chiefs were in, or a mixture of both?
-Who do you think should have won SBLV MVP honors?
- Looking Ahead
-Do you consider the Bucs favorites to win the NFC in 2021?
-Only six QB’s have won a Super Bowl after losing one (Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, John Elway, Roger Staubach, Bob Griese, and Len Dawson). With a gun to your head, does Patrick Mahomes eventually join that group?
- QB Carousel
-The second domino fell just last week as the Eagles agreed to trade Carson Wentz to the Colts for a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-round pick that will become a first if Wentz either plays at least 75% of the snaps or plays at least 70% of the snaps and the Colts make the playoffs. Is Wentz beyond repair, or can you see Frank Reich fixing him? Which team got the better end of the trade?
-Do you think the Jets get a similar haul for Sam Darnold should they decide to trade him?
-Just when you thought the carousel couldn’t make you even more dizzy, it was reported in The Athletic that Russell Wilson is indeed VERY unhappy with the Seahawks organization. While his agent Mark Rodgers clarified to ESPN that Russ has NOT demanded a trade, he did list four teams his client would be open to if/when a trade is discussed (Cowboys, Saints, Bears, Raiders). Moreover, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler added many around the NFL DO expect Russell Wilson to be traded eventually, and the only question is whether such a trade gets done this year or in 2022. When would you anticipate Russ getting traded? Which one of the four aforementioned clubs is the best possible fit for him?
-How great of a potential fit are the Panthers for Deshaun Watson?
- Franchise Tag (You’re It/You’re NOT It?)
-Bucs: Chris Godwin or Shaq Barrett?
-Ravens: Yannick Ngakoue
-Bears: Allen Robinson
-Cowboys: Dak Prescott
-Broncos: Justin Simmons
-Lions: Kenny Golladay
-Packers: Aaron Jones
-Chargers: Hunter Henry
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Given the fact there will be no traditional scouting combine this year, do you think there’s a rather good chance that what transpires on draft night is actually more different than ever before compared to what top analyst mocks say?
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Based on all the film study and character/biographical background research y’all have done at the Draft Network so far, what position groups in this 2021 draft class are the strongest (in terms of depth and talent), and which are the weakest?
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Mock Draft
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Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence
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Jets: Zach Wilson
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Dolphins: Ja’Marr Chase
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Falcons: Trey Lance
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Bengals: Penei Sewell
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Eagles: Devonta Smith
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Lions: Justin Fields
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Panthers: Rashawn Slater
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Broncos: Caleb Farley
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Cowboys: Kwity Paye
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Giants: Kyle Pitts
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49ers: Jaycee Horn
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Chargers: Christian Darrisaw
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Vikings: Alijah Vera-Tucker
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Patriots: Patrick Surtain II
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Cardinals: Najee Harris
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Raiders: Micah Parsons
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Dolphins: Jaylen Waddle
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Washington: Jalen Mayfield
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Bears: Samuel Cosmi
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Colts: Teven Jenkins
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Titans: Joseph Ossai
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Jets: Gregory Rousseau
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Steelers: Travis Etienne
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Jaguars: Trevon Moehrig
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Browns: Kadarius Toney
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Ravens: Jaelan Phillips
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Saints: Mac Jones
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Packers: Christian Barmore
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Bills: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
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Chiefs: Alex Leatherwood
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Buccaneers: Azeez Ojulari
- QB Carousel
-Are the Rams a legitimate Super Bowl contender with Matthew Stafford at QB?
-Even with Jared Goff and the support for him in the building, should the Lions still highly consider trading up for a QB in the first round?
-The Philadelphia Inquirer reported yesterday that the Eagles are getting close to trading Carson Wentz. But if they do trade Wentz, they will have to swallow an historic $33.8 million dead cap charge. Should they avoid trading him if the best offer they receive is less than a first-round pick?
-Thoughts on Niners/Kirk Cousins buzz? Should the Niners go all-in to acquire Deshaun Watson instead?
-At least at the moment, the Texans are not showing any interest in trading Deshaun Watson. A team executive for an AFC club told Josina Anderson that Watson may have to sit out the entire 2021 season in order to force a trade. While I personally don’t think it will take that long for a trade to materialize, I can definitely see this thing lasting until late August before a deal comes to fruition. What do you think?
- 2020 NFL Awards
Award David’s Pick Matt’s Pick
MVP Aaron Rodgers Aaron Rodgers
Offensive POY Davante Adams Derrick Henry
Defensive POY T.J. Watt Xavien Howard
Offensive ROY Justin Herbert Justin Jefferson
Defensive ROY Jeremy Chinn Chase Young
Comeback POY Alex Smith Alex Smith
Breakout POY Justin Jefferson Josh Allen
Most Improved POY Josh Allen D.K. Metcalf
Coach Of The Year Kevin Stefanski Sean McDermott
Assistant Coach Of The Year Brian Daboll Robert Saleh
- Super Bowl LV Preview: Chiefs at Bucs
-The Bucs pass rush was able to take advantage of David Bakhtiari’s absence to sack Aaron Rodgers five times in the NFC Championship. Now they go against a depleted Chiefs OL with backups at BOTH OT spots (including Mike Remmers). Why will or why won’t Patrick Mahomes suffer a similar fate as Rodgers?
-The Chiefs have a VERY underrated secondary (Tyrann Mathieu, Juan Thorhill, L’Jarius Sneed). How well do they match up with the Bucs’ cache of pass catching weapons?
-In a column for The Athletic, former NFL executive Michael Lombardi said the Bucs margin of error to pull off the upset, while not impossible, is very, very, small. He compared the Chiefs to the Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls because of their ability to win in ANY manner or style. If there are three keys for the Bucs to win, what are they?
-Aside from the OL, what other vulnerabilities, if any, do the Chiefs have?
-Game-deciding matchups
-Game picks
- Bold predictions
-Me: Brady will lead the Bucs to a game-winning goal-to-go situation at the one with under a minute to go…and will be intercepted in the end zone!!!
-Matt: Tyreek Hill is Super Bowl LV MVP with 2 TD’s and 175+ yards
- Challenge Flags
-Me: Bucs…embrace the underdog role!!!
-Matt: Andy Reid, tell your son Britt that he is not allowed to be a part of ANYTHING going forward
- Initial head coach hiring grades
-Jaguars: Urban Meyer
-Jets: Robert Saleh
-Falcons: Arthur Smith
-Chargers: Brandon Staley
-Lions: Dan Campbell
-Eagles: Nick Sirianni
- Initial GM hiring grades
-Broncos: George Paton
-Texans: Nick Caserio
-Falcons: Terry Fontenot
-Lions: Brad Holmes
-Panthers: Scott Fitterer
-Jaguars: Trent Baalke
-Washington: Martin Mayhew
- Truth/Exaggeration
-If the Texans don’t hire Eric Bieniemy as their new head coach, it will officially be the point of no return for Deshaun Watson and his relationship with the Texans
-Long-term, the Jets may be a better trade destination for Deshaun Watson and he should HIGHLY consider going there (as Richard Sherman suggested)
-IF the Lions decide to part ways with Matthew Stafford, the Colts and 49ers will be the top two teams in contention for his services
-The Broncos should release Von Miller regardless of what the criminal investigation into his conduct reveals
-The Bears made an egregious mistake by retaining both Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace for the 2021 season
-Jameis Winston will be the Week 1 starter for the Saints in 2021
- NFC Championship Preview: Bucs at Packers
-It was reported today that the Bucs will get underrated NT Vita Vea back for this consequential game. This is a big deal, especially going up against Aaron Jones and that LETHAL Packers rushing attack. Could his presence be the decisive difference in this game?
-How big of a deal is the absence of Antonio Brown for the Bucs?
-Game-deciding matchups
-Game picks
- AFC Championship Game: Bills at Chiefs
-As expected, Patrick Mahomes has cleared the concussion protocol, but he also suffered a toe injury in last week’s hard-fought divisional playoff contest against the Browns. How much will the toe injury hinder his improvisational abilities in the pocket, which are a trademark of his game?
-Buffalo’s D sold out to stop the pass in their previous matchup and dared the Chiefs to run. Do you think they will do something similar on Sunday?
-Game-deciding matchups
-Game picks
- Bold predictions
-Me: Bucs/Packers will go to OT. Rodgers gets the ball first and the Packers end up 4th-and-goal at the 3…and kick a FG. Then Brady responds with a 10-yard TD to Gronk and third-and-goal
-Matt: Josh Allen throws for three TD and runs for two more...and totals 375 yards
- Challenge Flags
-Me: Josh Allen, don’t get into your bad habits from 2019 (i.e: holding the ball too long)
-Matt: Officials…DON’T BLOW IT!!!!!
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Today, the Electoral College ratified President-Elect Biden’s victory, but the overall election wasn’t anywhere close to as rosy for the Democratic Party. Democrats lost at least a dozen seats in the House and the GOP is highly likely to retain control of the Senate barring a total catastrophe in Georgia on January 5. In an era of very few “ticket-splitting” voters, this initially came as a shock to many. That said, Public Opinion Strategies studied a lot of suburban voters this cycle, and they found while many of them couldn’t stomach voting to re-elect Trump, they also were lukewarm to the policies of the current Democratic party. Is it fair to say that the growing influence of Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and AOC on the Dems cost them dearly down-ballot?
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Another VERY promising sign for the GOP going forward is the historic amount of minority support President Trump was able to attract. He received nearly 1/3 of the Hispanic vote (a similar number your former boss George W. Bush posted), 12% of the black vote (the highest number for a Republican in a long time), and over 30% of the Jewish vote (the highest since Reagan). Why was he able to make such inroads in all three communities, and what do Republicans need to do grow support among those voters these next few election cycles?
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President-Elect Biden’s victory will not be officially official until January 6 when Congress tallies all 538 EC votes. And as the New York Times reported yesterday, House Republicans plan to object to the vote of the six states that flipped the presidency to Biden. And at least two GOP Senators (Ron Johnson and Rand Paul) are open to signing on, which, if they do, means the full Congress will debate the objection. Although this does effort is all but guaranteed to fail, it will be another debasement of our republic’s democratic institutions. That said, from a political standpoint, House/Senate R’s who don’t go along with this risk exposing themselves to a primary challenge from a QAnon member…or worse. As a political strategist, what is your advice to congressional R’s on how to not alienate the base yet respect the sanctity of our institutions simultaneously?
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Looking at Biden’s cabinet picks so far, which ones, in your view, are likely to pass a GOP-controlled Senate…and are any dead on arrival? If Justice Breyer retires within the next two years, and Biden appoints a moderate, do you think a GOP-controlled Senate will consider the nomination, or do precisely what they did with the Scalia vacancy in 2016?
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The main reason why I voted against President Trump was the existential risk that he, in my view, posed to our democratic republic. I remain VERY frightened that the United States remains on the fast track to another Civil War, a potential split into two different countries, or a full-blown dictatorship unless reforms to our electoral system are made. And no, I’m not for abolishing the Electoral College or expanding the size of SCOTUS. I’m talking about a LOT of hard compromises between both parties that will be ESSENTIAL to preserve this republic as we’ve known it. What do you think of the following proposal?
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-Who will end up with the NFC’s #1 seed: Packers or Saints?
-Who should the Chiefs fear more: Steelers or Bills?
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Four years ago around this time, many (if not most) in the news media touted Hillary Clinton as a solid favorite to win...and we know how that ended. Today, several are describing Joe Biden in the same light. As I mentioned in the intro, we had Austin, Texas-based GOP strategist Matt Mackowiak on the program. He said he expects this to be a VERY, VERY close election and is convinced that whoever wins the presidency is going to win it by a narrower Electoral College margin than 2016. Do you share that view and do you think the media is making the same mistake they did four years ago by GROSSLY underestimating President Trump’s chances of winning?
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Speaking of the Electoral College, you live out west in Colorado near another pivotal state that needs just as much attention as Florida and the four major Midwestern states (Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Minnesota). That state is Arizona. For well over a year, Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report has remained unwavering in his belief that Arizona is more likely to flip from Trump to Biden than Florida AND Wisconsin are. And there are more than enough reasons to take his thoughts seriously. Arizona is an increasingly diverse and metropolitan state with the kinds of voters moving TOWARD the Democrats whereas Wisconsin on the other hand is the whitest, most rural of the four Midwest battlegrounds and has the kinds of voters that are moving AWAY from the Democrats. Would you be surprised if a Biden victory consisted of all the Clinton states + MI/PA/AZ as opposed to all the Clinton states + MI/PA/WI?
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Right now, with voting underway, the biggest priority for the Democratic party MUST be GOTV efforts. And given the pandemic, most Democrats plan on casting their ballots BEFORE November 3. According to a recent NBC News/Survey Monkey poll, 71% of Democrats intend to vote absentee whether by mail or using in-person early voting. Everybody MUST make a plan to vote, but given a weakened, hobbled postal service, many voters (especially those living in states without a universal vote-by-mail system like Colorado) may have to adjust their plans. If someone wants to receive a ballot in the mail, what is the LATEST possible date to submit a request? Several are recommending that those who receive their ballots on or after October 14 return them in person to their county election office or a ballot drop box if available. Would you recommend that as well?
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Several top-tier Biden supporters have voiced concern in recent days, most notably, his chief rival for the 2020 Democratic nomination, Bernie Sanders. He suggested that Biden would almost certainly lose unless he stopped his centrist approach and catered more to progressive voters on economic issues. Also, some more establishment Democrats in swing states believe there is still a sizeable enthusiasm gap between the Trump base and the Democratic base and that Biden needs to do a lot more in-person campaigning to energize voters, as NYT reported. Do you think there is such a gap and if so, should Biden pivot and endorse progressive policies like the Green New Deal or Medicare For All?
- Season Headlines
Me:
-In the wake of the deaths of George Floyd, Breanna Taylor and others at the hands of police violence, NFL players have made it clear they will NOT be silent and will kneel during the playing of the National Anthem in protest. Even owners who are passionate supporters of the President (such as Jerry Jones), have given their players the green light to do so. Upon hearing the news, Eric Trump, the second of the President’s three sons, tweeted that the NFL was over. And there is no doubt that the President will try to make kneeling for the national anthem a centerpiece of his re-election campaign. If ratings show a sizeable drop, the NFL will be caught between a rock and a hard place and have to walk the tightest of lines in an attempt to avoid alienating significant chunks of the fan-base
Matt: COVID…can they finish the season?
- Truth/Exaggeration
-The NFL will decide to conduct the 2020 playoffs and Super Bowl in a bubble environment, especially if the pandemic worsens the further we get into fall and winter.
-Von Miller has played his last down as a Denver Bronco
-Jalen Ramsey’s blockbuster contract extension further ensures that the Rams will remain in a state of mediocrity (or worse) for the foreseeable future
-Kyler Murray will have a similar breakout campaign in 2020 to Lamar Jackson’s in 2019, even if he doesn’t win MVP
-The Chiefs are heavy favorites to repeat as AFC Champions
-The Packers will NOT make the playoffs in 2020
-Because of there being no preseason games due to COVID, the opening month of the 2020 season will be DOMINATED by offenses and defenses will struggle
- GAME OF THE WEEK: Texans at Chiefs
-Will the speed of the Texans WR corps help mitigate for the loss of DeAndre Hopkins against an opponent like the Chiefs?
-Just how low is the floor for the Texans defense given the TREMENDOUS holes and inconsistencies in their secondary?
-On paper, how much have the Chiefs improved compared to last season’s Super Bowl triumph? How much have they regressed on paper?
-Game deciding matchups: Chris Jones vs. Texans interior OL, Chiefs WR’s/Kelce vs. Texans secondary
-Game Predictions
- GAME OF THE WEEK: Bucs at Saints
-You have been EMPHATIC that Tom Brady has little to nothing left. Do you anticipate seeing a similar decline from Drew Brees this year like we supposedly saw from Brady last year?
-Does this Bucs D have the potential to be a top-10 unit?
-Can Emmanuel Sanders be the most consequential free agency acquisition of 2020?
-Game-deciding matchups: Saints iOL (Ruiz, McCoy, Peat) vs. Bucs behemoth DT’s (Vita Vea, Ndamukong Suh), Tristan Wirfs vs. Cameron Jordan??
-Game Predictions
- Game Predictions
-Seahawks at Falcons
-Raiders at Panthers
-Colts at Jaguars
-Eagles at Washington
-Browns at Ravens
-Jets at Bills
-Dolphins at Patriots
-Packers at Vikings
-Bears at Lions
-Chargers at Bengals
-Cardinals at 49ers
-Cowboys at Rams
-Steelers at Giants
-Titans at Broncos
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: Saints and Bucs will combine for 80 points and the game will end with 0 seconds on the clock as Drew Brees finds Emmanuel Sanders for a 10-yard TD on fourth and goal
MATT: Garoppolo throws for 4 TD’s (2 to Kittle, 1 to Aiyuk, 1 to McKinnon) 350 yards
- Challenge Flags
ME: NFL teams…do what the Bucs, Lions and Eagles did and turn your stadiums into voting locations for the 2020 election, giving your fans a VERY safe option to vote in-person during this pandemic.
MATT: Fans and analysts…DO NOT OVERREACT TO WEEK 1
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Last week, the sports world briefly hit the pause button in wake of the Jacob Blake shooting, starting with the NBA. As a result, it was announced that all NBA clubs intend to use their arenas as voting locations for the general election, whether it be for voter registration drives, in-person early voting, and/or having county officials there to collect completed absentee ballots. Given all the issues and red tape with voting by mail (not just USPS), isn’t voting in person at a sports arena one of the best ways of voting imaginable, especially during a pandemic?
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One of the President’s last remaining hurdles to overcome on the path to reelection is his handling of Covid-19. From a policy perspective, what MUST he do between now and November to prepare the country for the expected uptick of cases in the fall/winter?
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In the aftermath of George Floyd’s unconscionable murder, we have seen America at its best and at its worst. I personally have witnessed both Biden and Trump voters alike saying we need to significantly address racial biases in our criminal justice system. But we have also seen lawlessness and violence on both the extreme left and right alike. Whether it’s Antifa setting fire to police facilities or armed white supremacists firing guns at innocent bystanders, EVERY American should be equally outraged at the instigators on both sides. And just this week, three innocent demonstrators (two anti-Trump in Kenosha, one pro-Trump in Portland) were killed. This has only heightened my concern that a wave of violence a million times worse than we’re seeing right now could erupt after the election, especially if it’s super close and the outcome is in doubt. What do both Democrats AND Republicans need to do ASAP to ensure that doesn’t happen?
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Another nightmare scenario that could lead to such violence is the so-called “blue shift” that happened in the Arizona US Senate race in 2018. When we woke up the morning after the election, Martha McSally was leading, but the absentee ballots counted subsequently put Kyrsten Sinema over the top. If a similar scenario happened to Trump, which is possible given the fact that a record number of Americans are expected to vote absentee given the pandemic, it is a virtual guarantee that he will consider the election stolen. Currently, 14 states, including some key battlegrounds, prohibit the processing of these ballots until the morning of the election. However, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has proposed that the state begin processing absentee ballots three weeks before the election (as opposed to the morning of) so they have a better chance of completing the count by election night or the following day at worst. Do you agree with that proposal and if so, should all other battleground states follow?
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Whoever wins in November will not only have to deal with this once-in-a-century pandemic, but an increasingly dangerous Russia and China, who are hell bent on creating a new world order in their respective totalitarian images. In recent weeks, Vladimir Putin has threatened to deploy armies to Belarus to help Lukashenko retain power and poisoned his chief rival, Alexei Navalny. Xi Jingping has accelerated his crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, and more alarming info about his genocidal campaign against the Uighurs in Xinjiang has come to light. And of course, China gravely misled us on the dangers of COVID-19. Putin and Xi are arguably the two most dangerous men in the world right now, and we need to act FAST in order to stop them. What do you think should and can be done in order to do so? Should we grant asylum to some Uighurs and dissidents of both regimes?
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Thoughts on Steelers
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What we have seen with Major League Baseball (with the COVID-19 outbreaks within the Marlins and Cardinals causing games to be postponed) thus far is likely a preview of what to expect in the NFL this season. Peter King a few weeks ago wrote he is convinced that at some point the league will likely have to suspend play like the NBA did in March when the pandemic first hit. However, Richard Sherman countered that he only sees that happening if things get REALLY REALLY bad. Under what circumstances should the NFL suspend play?
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Biggest Training Camp Storylines for Each Team
-NFC West: 49ers, Seahawks, Rams, Cardinals
-AFC West: Chiefs, Broncos, Raiders, Chargers
-NFC North: Packers, Vikings, Bears, Lions
-AFC North: Ravens, Steelers, Browns, Bengals
-NFC East: Eagles, Cowboys, Giants, Washington
-AFC East: Patriots, Bills, Jets, Dolphins
-NFC South: Saints, Bucs, Falcons, Panthers
-AFC South: Texans, Titans, Colts, Jaguars
A. Latest Buzz (Buy Or Sell)
-Chris Mortensen said today of all the teams that are being discussed as strong candidates to trade up, the Falcons are expected to be the most aggressive and could move up all the way to the top five. So buy or sell: the Falcons will trade up to the top five and take Jeffrey Okudah if the Lions pass on him at 3, or move down to 6.
-The run on WR’s will begin earlier than most expect with two WR-needy teams trading up to the 8-10 range to get their guy
-If the Dolphins want Tua Tagovailoa, they’ll take one of the four OT’s at five, and will be able to stand pat at 18 where he’ll fall into their lap
-If the Dolphins do NOT want Tua, they will wait until 26 overall to take a QB…and that QB will be Jordan Love as opposed to Justin Herbert
-There will be no more than five trades in the first round due to the complex logistics of conducting the draft virtually
-The first round will last an hour longer than expected due to technical glitches
-The 49ers will move back from both 31 AND 13, especially if the WR run occurs earlier than expected
B. MOCK
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CIN: Joe Burrow
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WAS: Chase Young
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DET: Jeffrey Okudah
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NYG: Tristan Wirfs
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MIA: Andrew Thomas
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LAC: Isaiah Simmons
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CAR: Derrick Brown
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AZ: Jedrick Wills
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JAX: Justin Herbert
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ATL (from CLE): C.J. Henderson
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NYJ: Mekhi Becton
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LVR: CeeDee Lamb
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DEN (from SF): Henry Ruggs III
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TB: Javon Kinlaw
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SF (from DEN): Jerry Jeudy
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CLE (from ATL): K’Lavon Chaisson
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NE (from DAL): Tua Tagovailoa
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MIA: Xavier McKinney
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LVR: Jordan Love
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JAX: Jeff Gladney
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PHI: Denzel Mims
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MIN: Justin Jefferson
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DAL (from NE): Cesar Ruiz
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NO: Kristian Fulton
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MIN: A.J. Terrell
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MIA: Yetur Gross-Matos
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CLE (from SEA): Ezra Cleveland
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BAL: Patrick Queen
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TEN: Ross Blacklock
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GB: Jalen Reagor
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DEN (from SF): Josh Jones
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KC: Jonathan Taylor
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Chase Young is clearly the best prospect in this draft class. This past decade, we have seen pass rushers of Young’s ilk get drafted high and go on to have productive careers: Von Miller, Khalil Mack, Joey and Nick Bosa, Myles Garrett, etc. How does he compare to those aforementioned players as a prospect and would it surprise you if he ended up having the best career out of all of them?
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There is quite a sizeable drop-off after Young as far as this EDGE class goes. The player widely expected to be the second EDGE off the board is LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson. Chaisson is an extremely versatile player, who is able to rush the QB from the edge and inside on sub-packages, plus drop into coverage and cover RB’s and TE’s as well. He is also a freakish athlete. However, there was a similar prospect taken in the top-15 three years ago in Haason Reddick, and he’s pretty much been a bust thus far. Do you get Haason Reddick vibes from Chaisson?
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In August, many (if not most) people were talking about Iowa DE A.J. Epenesa as a top-10 pick. However, an uneven season plus below average testing at the Combine could have him potentially falling out of the first round altogether. Several believe his best chance at long-term success in the NFL is him putting on an additional 15-20 pounds and moving inside to three or five-tech DT. Do you share that view?
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Headed into the Combine, most had Derrick Brown as a top-five pick. But there has been some buzz from many in the NFL and Draft Twitter alike that Brown isn’t that much of a pass-rush threat and could fall out of the top 10 because of that. Would you be comfortable using a top-10 pick on Brown?
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South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw is one of the most inspiring stories in this draft. He grew up homeless and began his college career at JUCO before transferring to SC and becoming the anchor of Will Muschamp’s defense there. Many believe he can be an interior disruptor in the Chris Jones mold. However, Kinlaw’s stats were rather underwhelming and Marcus Mosher, who was on the program in recent weeks to break down the receiver class, did a study on DT prospects and noted that those at the position whose stats didn’t match their traits in college have rarely succeeded at the pro level. Do you think Kinlaw has a better chance than most to buck that trend?
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Ross Blacklock of TCU is somebody who could have sniffed the top-15 if it wasn’t for an Achilles injury he suffered in 2018. Like Kinlaw, he is a freakish athletic interior pass rusher. If he can get stronger and clean up his technique, do you think he can end up being the best DT from this draft class?
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Buy Or Sell: Yetur Gross-Matos, Terrell Lewis, Josh Uche, Jabari Zuniga, Alex Highsmith, Derrek Tuszka, Justin Madubuike, Jordan Elliott, James Lynch, Leki Fotu, Neville Gallimore, Marlon Davidson, Davon Hamilton, Jason Strowbridge
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Best Team Fits
-Young: Redskins
-Chaisson: Falcons, Jets
-Epenesa: Patriots
-Brown: Cardinals
-Kinlaw: Jaguars
-Blacklock: Vikings
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CIN: Joe Burrow
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WAS: Chase Young
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LAC (via DET): Tua Tagovailoa
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NYG: Isaiah Simmons
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MIA: Justin Herbert
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DET (via LAC): Jeffrey Okudah
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CAR: Andrew Thomas
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AZ: Tristan Wirfs
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DEN (via JAX): Henry Ruggs
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CLE: Mekhi Becton
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NYJ: Jedrick Wills
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LVR: CeeDee Lamb
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SF: Jerry Jeudy
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TB: Javon Kinlaw
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JAX (via DEN): Derrick Brown
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ATL: K’Lavon Chaisson
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DAL: Xavier McKinney
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MIA: Justin Jefferson
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LVR: C.J. Henderson
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JAX: Kristian Fulton
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PHI: Denzel Mims
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MIN: Jeff Gladney
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NE: Cesar Ruiz
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NO: Patrick Queen
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MIN: Jalen Reagor
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MIA: Josh Jones
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SEA: Yetur Gross-Matos
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BAL: Zack Baun
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TEN: Isaiah Wilson
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GB: Brandon Aiyuk
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IND (via SF): Jordan Love
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KC: A.J. Terrell
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As of right now, you have CeeDee Lamb as your top receiver. Why is that?
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There has been buzz building for quite a while now that Henry Ruggs will be the first receiver off the board on April 23. And it makes a ton of sense since Ruggs appears to be the new WR archetype NFL teams prefer after witnessing the success of similarly skilled players like Tyreek Hill and their ability to dictate coverages, which gives defensive coordinators headaches. However, you have another speedster, TCU’s Jalen Reagor ranked one spot ahead of Ruggs at the present time. Why you are slightly higher on Reagor than Ruggs?
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I’ve been hearing buzz that some teams view Jerry Jeudy as a slot-only wide receiver. Do you share that view and if so, is that a big reason you could see him sliding out of the top 15?
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One of the biggest winners at the Combine was LSU’s Justin Jefferson, who ran a 4.43 40. Jefferson was obviously one of CFB’s most accomplished receivers last year as he was one of Joe Burrow’s most trusted targets in his historic season. However, several have voiced similar concern about Jefferson as some have about Jeudy. Do you think Jefferson can be a good boundary receiver as well as a reliable slot option?
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Arguably the biggest winner of the entire draft process up to this point has been Baylor’s Denzel Mims. I saw him with my own two eyes dazzle everyone down in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, and he continued it at the Combine, where at 6-3, 207, he ran a 4.39 in the 40 and posted a freakish 6.66 time in the three-cone drill. Now, some buzz suggests that not only could he go in the top 20, but he also could be the third WR taken, if not the second. Would it surprise you if he gets selected before Jeudy or Lamb?
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Given the circumstances we are in with Covid-19, a receiver likely to experience a drop down boards is Colorado’s Laviska Shenault. Shenault re-aggravated a nagging groin injury at the Combine and his extensive injury history coupled with the fact there will be no med re-checks likely suggest he could be one of the best possible draft bargains this year. How far do you see him falling and what is the earliest spot you’d be willing to pull the trigger on a rare athlete like him?
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Buy Or Sell: Tee Higgins, Brandon Aiyuk, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michael Pittman, Devin Duvernay, Collin Johnson, Antonio Gandy-Golden, Van Jefferson, K.J. Hamler, John Hightower, James Proche
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Best Team Fits
-Lamb: Raiders
-Jeudy: Broncos
-Jefferson: Saints
-Ruggs: Buccaneers
-Reagor: Vikings
-Mims: Titans
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While there has been smoke to suggest otherwise, most all signs still point to the Bengals making Joe Burrow being the first overall pick in the draft. Some believe him to be the best QB prospect since Andrew Luck. Regardless of whether or not you share that view, what makes Burrow such a special prospect?
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Health aside, the main concern some people have about Tua Tagovailoa is that he was more of the product of the weapons around him and not the other way around. Why or why not is that a reasonable concern?
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There is still some people who believe that Justin Herbert will be the second QB off the board as opposed to Tua. However, he didn’t show the growth most wanted to see during his senior year at Oregon. That said, Jordan Reid of The Draft Network, a friend of the pod and one of THE brightest football minds out there believes that the offensive system the Ducks ran last year wasn’t designed to feature some of the main components of Herbert’s athletic toolkit. If Herbert can land in the right place, do you think there’s a good chance we could see the progress most wanted last season during his rookie season?
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Jordan Love is arguably the biggest wild card in this QB class. He may have the highest ceiling of any QB’s, yet he may have the lowest floor as well. In 2018, he had a 32-6 TD/INT ratio. Yet in 2019, that ratio drastically fell to 20/17. What factors do you think were mostly to blame for his regression last year? Did you initially think he should have stayed in college and transferred to a larger program?
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Since Jalen Hurts is not the athletic freak Lamar Jackson is and is WAY behind as a passer than Jackson was coming out of school, some scouts anonymously told reporters that they want him to switch to running back in order to succeed at the pro level. Do you think Hurts has a future under center in the NFL?
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Another QB that slid down draft boards during the 2019 season was Georgia’s Jake Fromm. With a downgraded supporting cast in the passing game, Fromm’s limitations (lack of size and desired arm talent) were brought to light more than ever last year. However, many believe teams will still want him because of his football intelligence and his ability to do most of the basic things right. Do you think Fromm can turn into another Kirk Cousins if he lands in the right situation?
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Best Team Fits
-Burrow: Bengals
-Tua: Dolphins
-Herbert: Chargers
-Love: Colts, Bucs
-Hurts: Chargers, Raiders, Bucs
-Fromm: Patriots, Colts
-Eason: Bucs, Titans
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Last night, Adam Schefter and Dianna Russini reported that despite a unamious recommendation from GM’s to delay the draft due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the NFL held firm in its plans to hold the draft April 23-25 as originally scheduled. One of the main concerns GM’s had was the disadvantage of some teams in areas that are currently hotbeds for Covid-19 (i.e.: NY/NJ area) having to draft from home with others still being able to use their team facilities. That said, the league is also ordering all team facilities to be closed from tonight through April 8 at the very least, which could signal that all 32 clubs might have to conduct the draft from home. Do you think that’s the case? If yes, would you say the draft occurs as scheduled and if not, how much does that increase the odds of the draft being pushed back?
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As you and others have reported recently, arguably the biggest prospect whose stock is in limbo due to Covid-19 is Tua Tagovailoa. Since there will be no med re-checks, many QB-needy teams might have additional pause about drafting him. Should the Dolphins opt to select Justin Herbert instead and the Chargers decide to take an OT at 6 overall, how far can you see Tua falling?
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There is expected to be a lot of wheeling and dealing early and often in this draft. As of January, the consensus belief was that Joe Burrow and Chase Young would go first and second overall, respectively, and the draft would essentially begin at #3 overall with the Lions likely trading down. However, there was buzz coming out of the Combine that the Redskins may move down from two and there’s even some chatter that the Bengals may even trade down from one overall in a blockbuster deal with the Dolphins. Do you still believe the Lions are the most likely of those three teams to trade down or is that buzz surrounding Cincinnati and Washington real?
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Another spot in the draft where things can get really wild, as Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff hinted weeks ago in a radio interview, is around the range from picks 9-11 to picks 20-22. A big reason why? Wide receivers. Although this is arguably the deepest, most talented WR class in years, there is a pretty sizeable drop-off in terms of tiers from the top three WR prospects: Henry Ruggs, Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb. The Jaguars at nine and the Jets at 11 have been mentioned as trade back candidates given the alarming holes all over their respective rosters, and the Browns at 10, since they are back to a more analytics-driven approach, have been mentioned as a possible candidate to trade back as well. And look at the amount of WR-needy teams picking behind the Jets: the Raiders (12, 19), 49ers (13), Broncos (15), Eagles (21), and the Vikings (22, 25). Out of the three trade back candidates (JAX, CLE, NYJ), which one do you see as most likely to move back and which of those teams urgently in need of immediate WR help do you see as their most likely trading partner?
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LISTENER QUESTION: What should the Packers game plan be for the draft?
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LISTENER QUESTION: What do you think the Bears to do with their two second-round picks?
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Amidst an atmosphere of economic uncertainty for the NFL and the country in general due to Covid-19, NFL owners and 51% of dues-paying players breathed a sigh of relief a little over a week ago as the NFLPA ratified the new CBA, albeit by a very narrow 60-vote margin. Matt and I are ardent critics of this deal, but now that it’s done, what does the NFLPA have to do next?
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The New League Year began with a flurry of trades beginning with the Houston Texans trading DeAndre Hopkins and a 2020 fourth-rounder to the Cardinals for a 2020 second-rounder and a 2021 fourth-rounder. Do you ever remember such a big trade being more one-sided than this one? If you’re Deshaun Watson, do you tell the McNair family that either Bill O’Brien leaves or I leave?
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Another big blockbuster trade that occurred involved your San Francisco 49ers as they traded Pro Bowl DT DeForest Buckner to the Colts for Indy’s 2020 first-round pick at 13 overall. Buckner also got a mega-contract extension from the Colts that will average $21 million per year, making him the second-highest paid DT in the game. Is Buckner worth that amount of money for the Colts, and do you think he and Philip Rivers give them a good shot at potentially winning the AFC South? As far as the 49ers are concerned, I think they have their eyes on five prospects at 13 overall, DT’s Derrick Brown and Javon Kinlaw, and the top three WR’s in the draft (Ruggs, Jeudy, Lamb). Would you be surprised if the Niners go with any of these five, should they be available? Should the Niners consider trading down from 13, if they think it will net them better picks than trading down from 31 will?
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What are your thoughts on Tom Brady’s fit with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Do you trust Bruce Arians to adapt his offense for Brady? Should the Bucs be considered either favorites or co-favorites in the NFC South as of now?
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Best fits for QB’s still without work or on the trade block
-Jameis Winston: Chargers
-Andy Dalton: Patriots
-Cam Newton: Steelers?
- FA Absolutes
-Team with the best free agency period? Cardinals
-Team with the worst free agency period? Texans
-Best signing? Melvin Gordon to Broncos
-Worst signing? Tom Brady
-Biggest steal? (whether via trade or signing):
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Tristan Wirfs is an EXTREMELY athletic, versatile lineman from Iowa, which is arguably college football’s main offensive line factory for the NFL. He has experience at both left and right tackle, and many also believe he has the skill-set to be a good guard as well. Also, he delivered an historic performance in the vertical jump and broad jump. In your view (and your Hawkeye bias aside), what makes Tristan Wirfs the best OL prospect in this draft class?
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The other prospect neck-and-neck with Wirfs to be the first OT off the board is Mekhi Becton of Louisville. A mountain of a man at 364 pounds, he moves incredibly light on his feet and ran a jaw-dropping 5.10 40 at the Combine. Why do you think many analysts and teams view Becton as the best OL in this class?
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Alabama’s Jedrick Wills rounds out the first tier of offensive tackles. However, there were rumors coming out of the Combine that his stock may be falling a bit. Tony Pauline, respected draft analyst and NFL insider, reported that teams think Wills isn’t quick enough to process more complex blocking schemes and projects far better at guard than at tackle. Do you think he’d be a better guard?
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Georgia OT Andrew Thomas is a very interesting prospect. Entering the fall, most draftniks had him as a sure-fire, can’t miss, top-10 prospect. Now, it has been reported that his stock can vary from a top-15 pick, to a late first-round pick. Why do you and many others think that Thomas isn’t in the same tier as Wirfs, Becton and Wills? Can he play guard?
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One of THE biggest winners at the Combine was Boise State OT Ezra Cleveland. He finished best among OL in the three-cone and 20-yard shuttle, and he also finished in the top-five amongst OL in the bench press and 40. But in as early as late December or early January, Tony Pauline was reporting several around the league believed that Cleveland could go in the first round. Based on what you’ve seen on his game tape so far, do you think that such beliefs are justified?
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While this interior OL class is relatively unspectacular, there are two REALLY good center prospects in this year’s class: Michigan’s Cesar Ruiz and LSU’s Lloyd Cushenberry III. Many project the two to be selected in the top-50. Give us your impression of both and where/why you currently rank them on your board.
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Buy Or Sell: Josh Jones, Lucas Niang, Austin Jackson, Isaiah Wilson, Matt Peart, Colton McKivitz, Damien Lewis, Ben Bartch, Robert Hunt, Matt Hennessy, Keith Ismael, Michael Onwenu
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Best Team Fits
-Wirfs:
-Becton:
-Wills:
-Thomas:
-Jones:
-Niang:
-Ruiz:
-Wilson:
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Yesterday morning, lawyers from the NFL and NFLPA completed the 456-page document of the proposed CBA, and shortly thereafter, the full populace of players began a week-long vote on the proposal. The deal, if ratified, will bring uninterrupted labor peace all the way through the 2030 season, expand the regular season from 16 to 17 games by as early as 2021, expand the playoff picture from 12-14 teams, raise minimum salaries, and strip Roger Goodell of most of the disciplinary powers that he has under the current CBA. While that may sound good on the surface to some, it is obviously way more complicated than that. And those of you who have been listening to the pod and reading my tweets and Facebook posts in recent weeks know very well that I firmly believe the players did NOT receive enough in return for a 17th game. What are your thoughts on this proposed CBA, Hal? Do you buy the argument that if the players reject this deal that the overall pie will shrink in a year or two leading to a substantially worse offer?
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Even with most league business currently on hold until the CBA vote ends at 11:59 PM ET on March 12, two trades went down this week. First, the Jaguars traded CB A.J. Bouye to the Denver Broncos for a fourth-round pick, which means nearly all of that star-laden 2017 Jaguars defense is no longer in Jacksonville. Next, the Carolina Panthers traded Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner to the Chargers for LT Russell Okung. It is clear both the Jaguars and Panthers are having a fire sale and will treat 2020 as a rebuilding year. Which of those teams do you think is trying harder to tank for Trevor Lawrence like the Dolphins supposedly did for Tua last year?
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Tag and Trade…or Tag and Keep?
-Yannick Ngakoue
-Chris Jones
-Shaquil Barrett
-Matt Judon
-Arik Armstead
- Biggest Combine Takeaways
-Me: Henry Ruggs will be WR1, Justin Jefferson and Denzel Mims now at the top of the second tier of WR’s. Combine format will have to be changed back to the previous one where workouts and drills occurred early in the morning as opposed to mid-to-late afternoon/evening.
-Hal: More and more amazing athletes are coming into the NFL
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Word out of New England is that Patriots owner Robert Kraft is fiercely trying to convince Bill Belichick to keep Tom Brady regardless of the cost whereas Belichick is indifferent. Bob Kraft has rarely, if ever, undercut a decision made by Bill Belichick. How good of a chance is there that Kraft will actually do so here?
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If Tom Brady does leave New England as ESPN’s Jeff Darlington anticipates, would the Titans or the 49ers make more sense for him?
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Ideal landing spots for the following (non-QB) free agents:
-Byron Jones: Eagles
-Chris Harris, Jr.: Lions, Titans
-D.J. Reader: Dolphins
-Jadeveon Clowney: Colts
-Cory Littleton: Broncos, Jets, Raiders
-Anthony Harris: Dolphins, Raiders
-Joe Thuney: Jets, Lions
-Jack Conklin: Browns
-Robby Anderson: Jets, Raiders, Patriots
-Austin Hooper: Packers, Patriots, Texans, Steelers
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Yesterday, the Broncos traded the 4th-round pick they acquired from the 49ers in the Emmanuel Sanders trade to the Jaguars for CB A.J. Bouye. It was a move that makes sense on the surface given that Bouye likely would’ve commanded a higher salary if he was released plus the fact Chris Harris, Jr. is likely headed elsewhere in free agency. What are your thoughts on this trade and based on what you’ve seen on film so far, how much does Bouye bring to the Broncos secondary?
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Of all the Broncos in-house free agents, retaining All Pro S Justin Simmons is the team’s top priority. All signs point to him getting the franchise tag by the March 12 deadline next week. That said, every player who’s received the tag under John Elway’s stewardship of the front office eventually ended up getting a long-term deal. Do you anticipate a similar outcome with Simmons or do you have a feeling this case could be different?
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Some other notable Broncos coming out of contract include Derek Wolfe, Shelby Harris, and Will Parks. Which one of those three SHOULD the Broncos re-sign, in your view?
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What outside free agents do you anticipate the Broncos signing?
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Aside from the A.J. Bouye trade, the biggest move the Broncos have made so far this offseason was parting ways with OC Rich Scangarello and hiring former Giants HC Pat Shurmur in his place. You seemed initially skeptical about this hire, and while caution is recommended since nothing is a guarantee to work out, are there any legitimate reasons to believe Shurmur could very well be the guy to develop Drew Lock into a legit starter and make this Broncos offense into a much more fearsome unit?
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Which player do you think will have the biggest leap under Pat Shurmur?
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Broncos 7-Round Mock Draft
-(15): Henry Ruggs
-(46): Denzel Mims
-(77): Ezra Cleveland
-(83): Darnay Holmes
-(95): Akeem Davis-Gaither
-(108): Damien Lewis
-(161): Terrell Burgess
-(214): Darius Anderson
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Earlier this week, Benjamin Allbright (Pro Football Network) reported that the Bears are looking at veteran QB options. While Trubisky is still going to get a shot to prove he’s the guy, his leash will be VERY short like Marcus Mariota’s was last season. He also noted that if the Raiders were to trade or release Derek Carr ($21.5M cap hit, $7.9M in dead money), they’d be interested. And another name he mentioned that the Bears are discussing is Andy Dalton. The Bears salary cap issues aside, which one of those two QB’s would be the best get for the Bears and why?
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In order to get those QB’s, the Bears will likely need to free up more salary cap space. While they did just that yesterday by releasing Taylor Gabriel and Prince Amukamara, that only puts the Bears at an estimated $18M and change under the cap according to OverTheCap.com. Two other such moves that will net them more cap space are Leonard Floyd ($13.222M savings, $0 dead), Akiem Hicks ($8.8M savings, $3M dead). Do you see the Bears releasing one of those two players?
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Another way they could potentially free up more cap space is with a contract extension for WR Allen Robinson, who is slated to count $15M against the cap this year. How realistic is it that a new contract (with a lower 2020 cap number) will be in place for ARob before the season?
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The Bears made some coaching changes, particularly on the offensive staff. They fired OC Mark Helfrich and replaced him with former Dolphins and Bengals OC Bill Lazor. What potential upgrades over Helfrich does Lazor bring?
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Another one of those coaching moves was puzzling to me was the firing of OL coach Harry Hiestand. Hiestand, to me, is a top-five OL coach in football at all levels. What did you feel about Hiestand’s dismissal?
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What free agents do you see the Bears signing?
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Bears 7-Round Mock Draft
-(43): Julian Okwara
-(50): Brycen Hopkins
-(145): Devin Duvernay
-(176): Antoine Brooks, Jr.
-(180): Darryl Williams
-(203): Salvon Ahmed
-(210): Kindle Vildor
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Today, the NFL owners approved the terms of a potential new Collective Bargaining Agreement and the NFLPA will discuss those terms and perhaps vote on a conference call tomorrow. The terms of the deal include the expansion of the regular season from 16 games to 17 games (along with reducing the preseason by one game) and the expansion of the playoffs from 12 teams to 14 teams (seven per conference). As bargaining chips, the owners have increased the player’s share of revenue from 47% to 48.5% (which could go up to 49% with new TV $$), raised minimum salaries across the board, COMPLETELY took away the “judge/jury/executioner” role from Roger Goodell with the exception of matters concerning the “integrity of the game”, and put in more safety measures, particularly in training camp practices. Still, if I was a player, I’m not sure this would be enough for me to approve the proposal currently on the table. I said previously that unless I got SIGNIFICANT concessions such as receiving 50%+ of total revenue, an extra bye week during the regular season, and SIGNIFICANTLY improved health care and pensions for retirees, I wouldn’t sign off on a 17th game. What do you think?
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Another one of many items that can derail this deal from getting done by the start of the new league year on March 18 is that players who have negotiated contracts based on a 16-game season would have their 17th game check capped at $250K as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported. Granted, that reportedly only affects players making an average annual salary higher $4.25 million, which is like eight out of 1900 players if the 17-game season went into effect in 2021. Why would the majority of players benefit even more if those at the top were able to make far more money in a 17th game?
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If there is no new CBA by March 2021, and the NFL decides not to lock out, do you strike if you’re the players?
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LET’S PLAY TAG!!!
-Cowboys (Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, Byron Jones)
-Franchise Tag: Dak Prescott, Transition Tag: Byron Jones
-Buccaneers (Jameis Winston, Shaq Barrett)
-Franchise Tag: Shaq Barrett, Transition Tag: Jameis Winston
-Titans (Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry)
-Franchise Tag: Derrick Henry, -Transition Tag:
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Which of these three teams would be the BEST possible fit for Tom Brady should he leave the Patriots: Titans, Raiders, Chargers
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Ideal landing spots for QB’s on the move…or possibly on the move
-Teddy Bridgewater: Patriots
-Taysom Hill (RFA): DON’T TOUCH…or Ravens????
-Philip Rivers: Colts
-Jameis Winston: Bears
-Derek Carr: Patriots?? Titans??
-Ryan Tannehill: Bears, Raiders
-Andy Dalton: Dolphins as backup
-Marcus Mariota: Ravens, Bills, or Seahawks
-Jacoby Brissett: Stay with Colts
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CeeDee Lamb is usually mentioned in the same breath as Jerry Jeudy as a serious candidate to be the first WR taken off the board. However, the expectation is that Lamb will run in the 4.5s in the 40 yard dash. While I constantly, passionately stress that 40 time isn’t the end all, be all for WR’s, the NFL has a history of letting uber-talented receivers who post such a result slide much farther than they should. A notable recent example of that is Michael Thomas, who is now arguably the best WR in the NFL. Based on the tape alone, do you think Lamb is worthy of a top-10 selection?
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The WR that’s likely to generate the most buzz in Indy is Henry Ruggs. Many believe he will break the record for fastest 40 time ever recorded at the Combine, which was recently set by John Ross three years ago. Ross ended up being the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft. Do you think Ruggs is a better prospect? If so, what makes him so and do you think his film alone should put him in the conversation along with Lamb and Jeudy to be the first WR off the board?
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Another speedy receiver with a chance to skyrocket up boards with a good showing in Indy is TCU’s Jaelen Reagor. Many on Draft Twitter are enamored with his skillset, but several other respected analysts are not as high on him. What were your major takeaways from Reagor’s tape and do you think he can be a top-25 or top-15 pick if he does well for the remainder of the draft process?
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This is one of the better OT classes we have seen in quite some time. There could very well be five OT’s selected in the first round, if not more. But there are some interesting questions surrounding two of the top five prospects; Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs and Georgia’s Andrew Thomas. Reportedly, many around the league believe both of them are better fits inside at guard (Wirfs due to length and Thomas due to play-style). Do you share those views?
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Another position group with some incredible depth in this 2020 draft class is corner. The headliner of the class is obviously Jeffrey Okudah, who is a borderline lock to go top-five. But after him, it’s a bit of a mystery. Which corners do you think have the most convincing case to be the second CB taken off the board?
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We were down in Mobile for the Senior Bowl last month, and arguably the biggest star down there was South Carolina DT Javon Kinlaw. I heard from a credible source down there that scouts around the league have near-identical grades on him and Auburn DT Derrick Brown, another blue chip prospect. If he tests as well as expected in Indy, do you think he deserves to be drafted before Brown?
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Another star player we saw down in Mobile was safety Kyle Dugger from Lenoir Rhyne. Last week, Matt Miller, the lead NFL Draft analyst from Bleacher Report reported that some scouts think Dugger is a better prospect than LSU’s Grant Delpit. What are your thoughts on Dugger and how high do you think he can be drafted?
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Name some under-the-radar prospects who you believe have the potential to dramatically increase their stock at the combine
We kick off our 2020 NFL Draft Coverage with a special interview with Nick Gauna, who was a placekicker on the 2015-16 University of Alabama National Championship football team!! He discussed how his inspiring journey led him to Tuscaloosa, his experience playing for Nick Saban, and shared his thoughts on the top prospects the Crimson Tide have in the 2020 NFL Draft
- Initial thoughts on Super Bowl LIV
Me:
-Opposite styles attract!
Hal: Both teams have good offensive lines, especially at OT…and good DL too
- Truth/Exaggeration
-The 49ers ground game will be even more difficult for the Chiefs to stop than that of the Titans
-The Chiefs wide receivers against the Niners DB’s is the biggest mismatch in favor of the Chiefs
-Jimmy Garoppolo will have to throw for at least 250+ yards and 2 TD’s for the Niners to win
-The Chiefs will have to allow less than 150 rushing yards for them to win
-The 49ers will start the game throwing it over the yard with the Chiefs anticipating the run
-Andy Reid should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day REGARDLESS of Sunday’s outcome
-A Niners win means that Kyle Shanahan’s father Mike will be enshrined in Canton within the next five years
- David and Hal’s picks of the Modern Era Finalists for the Pro Football HOF Class of 2020
-Troy Polamalu, Steve Atwater, John Lynch, LeRoy Butler, Edgerrin James, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne, Tony Boselli, Alan Faneca, Steve Hutchinson, Richard Seymour, Bryant Young, Sam Mills, Zach Thomas
- 2019 NFL Awards
AWARD DAVID’S CHOICE HAL’S CHOICE
MVP Lamar Jackson Lamar Jackson
Offensive POY Michael Thomas Christian McCaffrey
Defensive POY Shaq Barrett Stephon Gilmore
Offensive ROY Josh Jacobs Josh Jacobs
Defensive ROY Nick Bosa Nick Bosa
Comeback POY Ryan Tannehill Dalvin Cook
Fantasy POY Christian McCaffrey Christian McCaffrey
Breakout POY Courtland Sutton Shaq Barrett
Most Improved POY Davante Parker Josh Allen
Coach of the Year Kyle Shanahan Mike Vrabel
Assistant Coach of the Year Greg Roman Dante Scarnecchia
- Super Bowl LIV Analysis and Game Predictions
-Key matchups: Nick Bosa vs. Eric Fisher, DeForest Buckner vs. Stefan Wisniewski
-Rank these four potential deciding factors in order of importance for this game: Average starting field position, RZ efficiency, time of possession, turnovers
-Predictions of final score, MVP, and unsung hero
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: Dee Ford strip-sacks Patrick Mahomes on the final drive of the game to seal the win for the Niners
HAL: Chiefs defense is going to hold the 49ers offense to 60 rushing yards or less
- Challenge Flags
ME: Jimmy G…shut the haters up and show us who you really are
HAL: Patrick Mahomes…this is the year of destiny for you. SEIZE IT!!!!!
Ohio State WR KJ Hill was another player who made himself some money at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl. I caught up with him after the final day of practice and he talked about why Brian Hartline, his position coach in college, is such a masterful teacher, discussed the strengths of his game aside from his superb route running skills, the advice his former Buckeye teammate and current star Redskins WR Terry McLaurin is giving him as he goes through the draft process...and more!!!
Texas WR Collin Johnson was another player that stood out to me at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl. We spoke after practice and he discussed why he's running routes better than most 6-6 receivers, what makes the comeback route so difficult (he ran a great such route in practice that day), the amazing feeling he got from getting to conclude his college career in Mobile playing with fellow Longhorn Devin Duvernay...and MORE!!!
Wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden from Liberty University is one of the more inspiring stories of the 2020 NFL Draft. I spoke to him after one of the practices at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl to discuss his story and game. He talks about growing up in Chicago's impoverished Englewood neighborhood and the inspiration he takes from NBA star Derrick Rose (who also grew up in Englewood). We also discussed the parts of his game he felt he improved during the week in Mobile, his favorite NFL wide receivers and more!!!
Utah DB Terrell Burgess is one of the most versatile players in the 2020 NFL Draft. He can play all four secondary positions. I interviewed him at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl after practice and he discussed which position he's most comfortable at, what he's learned from watching similarly hybrid defensive backs like All Pro Tyrann Mathieu of the Chiefs...and MORE!!!
Baylor WR Denzel Mims was another big standout at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl. I spoke to him after the second day of practice, and he discussed why his track background helps him play the wide receiver position, why his coach at Baylor, Matt Rhule (now the head coach of the Panthers) will be successful in the NFL, what makes him admire Saints All Pro WR Michael Thomas so much...and MORE!!!!!
Ohio State is a defensive line factory for the NFL and an underrated DL prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft is Davon Hamilton. I talked to him after practice at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl and we talked about what makes Buckeyes DL coach Larry Johnson such an effective teacher, what advice he's seeking from former Buckeye DL-mates Nick Bosa (2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year!) and Dre'Mont Jones...and MORE!!!
Freakish, athletic Alabama edge rusher Terrell Lewis is one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft. I spoke to him after one of the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl practices, and we discussed what makes his game so unique, what it was like playing for such a legendary head coach like Nick Saban, the latest on his college teammate and friend Tua Tagovailoa...and MORE!!!!
LSU center Lloyd Cushenberry III was another one of the big winners at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl. I caught up with him after practice and he talked about his versatility (he can play guard as well as center), what it was like playing with 2019 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, why having Ed Orgeron, a former DL coach as his college head coach helped get him pro ready and more!!!
Houston OT Josh Jones was one of the star performers at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl, and he could very well end up a first-round pick as a result. In this interview, he describes his game, why going up against fellow Houston Cougar and current Buffalo Bill Ed Oliver (the 9th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft) in practice helped make him a better player, why he would be an asset to an NFL club on and off the field and more!!!
I was fortunate to run into North Carolina OT Charlie Heck at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl. We talked about his father Andy (former guard for the Seahawks and Bears and current OL coach for the Chiefs), what he taught Charlie about football and life, what it would mean to his family if the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV, his thoughts on the big game and more!!!
In this deep and insanely talented 2020 WR draft class, Devin Duvernay is arguably one of the best possible options on Day 2. I spoke with him at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl and he talked about why he's much more than a "deep threat", who he credits for his 106 reception season in 2019 and more!!!!
Offensive weapon Antonio Gibson, who played running back AND wide receiver at Memphis, joined me at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl. He discussed which of the two positions he thinks he plays the best, what NFL players he tries to model his game after, and more!!!!
One of the stars of the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl was Lenoir Rhyne safety/linebacker Kyle Dugger. I caught up with him there and he discussed what positions he played in college, why versatile, hybrid players like him are increasing in value, what NFL players he looks up to, and what aspects of his game he wanted to improve on during the week
I caught up with versatile Maryland DB Antoine Brooks at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl. We discussed why hybrid "position-less" defenders like him are now highly coveted by the NFL as opposed to years past, what his favorite position to play is, his thoughts on soon-to-be Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Troy Polamalu and more!!!!
Matt Lombardo, Giants beat reporter for the Newark Star-Ledger, joined me at the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl to talk about what awaits the New York Giants in 2020 and beyond. He discussed why history is an encouraging sign for new Giants head coach Joe Judge, why new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett will be helpful to the development of Daniel Jones, and who the Giants should take with the 4th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft
Matthew Fairburn, Bills beat reporter for The Athletic, joined me at the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl to talk about the Buffalo Bills and their promising future. He discussed the Bills plans in free agency and the draft, what QB Josh Allen must do to take another big step forward next season, and the potential of DT Ed Oliver contending for an All Pro selection in his second NFL season
Former All Pro NFL safety Steve Atwater joined me at the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl for a fun-filled interview. He discussed why the NFL is valuing hybrid, “positionless” defensive players more than ever, his thoughts on Super Bowl LIV, and his chances on getting enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Thomas Reed, Browns beat reporter for The Athletic joined me at the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl to discuss the current state of the Cleveland Browns. He shared his thoughts on new Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, whether or not Odell Beckham, Jr. will be a Brown in 2020, what the Browns may do with the 10th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and what the new front office structure should look like
Friend of the pod Turron Davenport, now covering the Tennessee Titans for ESPN, joined me at the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl to discuss immediate issues facing the Titans in the wake of their defeat in the AFC Championship. He mentioned how the Titans will keep Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry for 2020 and beyond, discussed what the Titans should do in the 2020 NFL Draft, and their plans at defensive coordinator in the wake of the retirement of Dean Pees
Ryan O’Halloran, Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post joined me at the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl to discuss the Broncos, what they should do in the draft with the 15th overall pick, their free agency plans (including contract negotiations with All Pro safety Justin Simmons), and the team’s ownership situation
Vincent Bonsignore, Raiders beat reporter for the Las Vegas Review Journal, joined me at the 2000 Reese’s Senior Bowl to talk about the Raiders, their plans in the 2020 NFL Draft, why it doesn’t seem too likely they’ll pursue Tom Brady in free agency, and why Vegas will be a “home run” market for the Raiders and the NFL
Dave Richard, fantasy football analyst for CBS Sports, joined me at the Reese’s Senior Bowl to discuss the potential 2020 fantasy value of Joe Burrow and CeeDee Lamb (assuming he gets drafted by a team in which he’ll automatically be the go-to WR). He also gives a list of Senior Bowl participants he thinks can be fantasy relevant next season
- Divisional Round Takeaways
Me: Bill O’Brien is squandering the Texans championship potential with Deshaun Watson and he must be fired NOW
Matt: MVP’s don’t win Super Bowls
- Truth/Exaggeration
-The Ravens blew their best chance to win a Super Bowl with Lamar Jackson
-If Antonio Brown doesn’t seek the right help fast, he will never play another down in the NFL
-The Giants will stunt Daniel Jones’ development if they hire Jason Garrett as OC instead of retaining Mike Shula
-Joe Burrow just authored the greatest single season performance in college football history and will be the next superstar NFL QB
-With a looming “cap crunch”, the Minnesota Vikings Super Bowl window might have already closed with Saturday’s loss to the Niners
-Regardless of what he thinks of the new coaching staff, the Browns must do all they can to trade Odell Beckham
- Coaching Carousel
-Browns: Thoughts on Kevin Stefanski hire?
-Broncos: Was it the right move to part ways with Rich Scangarello and bring in Pat Shurmur?
- AFC Championship Preview: Titans at Chiefs
-If Chris Jones doesn’t play, how much does that increase the likelihood of a Titans upset?
-Do you see the Mike Vrabel having a Belichick-esque game plan on defense to slow the Chiefs down like dropping eight or nine guys in coverage and conceding the run?
-Key matchups: Jurrell Casey, Jeffery Simmons, DaQuan Jones versus Chiefs iOL, Derrick Henry vs. Chiefs DL
-Game picks
- NFC Championship Preview: Packers at 49ers
-Matt LaFleur is consulting Sean McVay on how to attack the Niners D. The Rams had some success doing so in Week 16 with a lot of boots and rollouts. How are the Niners better equipped to handle such concepts this time around?
-Will Aaron Rodgers have to be Superman for the Packers to win…or do you see them doing all they can to get Aaron Jones and the ground game going early and often?
-The Niners OL did a FANTASTIC job handling the Vikings front, especially in the run game. How much more difficult of a challenge will the Packers front be for them?
-Key matchups: Kenny Clark vs. Ben Garland, 49ers DL vs. Aaron Jones
-Game picks:
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: AFC Championship goes to overtime. Chiefs get the ball first and are forced to settle for a field goal. Then on the ensuing possession, Titans win on a 90-yard TD run by Derrick Henry!
MATT: 49ers DL sacks Aaron Rodgers seven times
- Challenge Flags
ME: GIVE US MORE LAST MINUTE DRAMA THIS WEEK!!
MATT: Andy Reid…GET THAT MONKEY OFF YOUR BACK!!!!
- Wild Card Weekend Takeaways
Me: The Kirk Cousins hate must stop NOW
Hal: Redemption for Deshaun Watson and Kirk Cousins and emergence of the new guard (Titans)
- Truth/Exaggeration
-The NFL should modify its OT rules allowing each team to possess the ball in OT REGARDLESS of what happens on the first possession
-The NFL must adjust the Rooney Rule by putting in a requirement that teams MUST interview at least one minority HC candidate from OUTSIDE your organization that has never previously been an NFL head coach
-The winner of Saturday’s Vikings/49ers game will be the eventual NFC Champion
-The Redskins must NOT trade the second overall pick unless they get an RG3-style king’s ransom (meaning firsts in 2020, 2021 AND 2022) in return
-People should bet on the Vikings, Titans AND Texans to cover the spread this weekend
- Coaching Carousel
-Cowboys: Michael Lombardi said that while Mike McCarthy is the perfect fit for the Cowboys given the fact that McCarthy isn’t a guy that’s going to upstage Jerry Jones, he is “skeptical” whether or not McCarthy will bring the team successful long-term. Do you share that view?
-Panthers: Do you think Matt Rhule will end up being the best hire of this cycle?
-Giants: Thoughts on the Joe Judge hire?
-Browns: (Assuming McDaniels decides not to go there If the Vikings lose), should they immediately pounce on Stefanski? If Niners lose, should they pounce on Saleh?
- QB Carousel
-If Josh McDaniels stays in New England, how much does that increase the likelihood Brady stays? If Brady is not a Patriot in 2020, where does he play?
-What SHOULD the Saints do: Re-sign Brees? Re-sign Bridgewater? Re-sign Taysom Hill?
- Divisional Round Weekend
-Vikings at 49ers (Analysis, Game Picks)
-Titans at Ravens (Analysis, Game Picks)
-Texans at Chiefs (Analysis, Game Picks)
-Seahawks at Packers (Analysis, Game Picks)
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: Dalvin Cook gets 200 scrimmage yards and 2 TD runs of 20+ yards
HAL: NEITHER Desahun Watson and Patrick Mahomes throw 200 passing yards or a TD
- Challenge Flags
ME: Divisional round…be just as exciting as Wild Card
HAL: Mike Zimmer and Mike Vrabel….DON’T TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS
- Week 17 Takeaways
Me: Brian Flores could be the best head coach to ever come off the Bill Belichick tree
Matt: Another Seahawks choke on the one-yard line (blame the delay of game)
- Truth/Exaggeration
-Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is now just as bad of an owner as the Redskins Dan Snyder
-Titans WR A.J. Brown should win Offensive Rookie of the Year award
-Dolphins WR Davante Parker should win Comeback Player of the Year award
-Out of all the four teams who earned first-round playoff byes, the Packers are the one most likely to be one and done
-The Detroit Lions should explore trading the third overall pick unless they like a certain player FAR more than others at that spot
-Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa would be making a colossal mistake if he decides to return to school
- Coaching Carousel
-Redskins: With the hiring of Ron Rivera and the firing of Bruce Allen, how hopeful should Redskins fans be?
-Browns: Which head coach/GM pairing would be the most ideal?
-Kevin Stefanski/Andrew Berry
-Josh McDaniels/Dave Ziegler
-Mike McCarthy/Andrew Berry
-Cowboys: Outside of treating him like a family member and ending this gracefully and respectfully, is there any other legitimate reason to wait until Jason Garrett’s contract expires on January 14? Should Jason Garrett be given another role within the organization?
- Pro Football HOF Class of 2020 Modern Era Finalists (who would your five enshrinees be?)
Troy Polamalu
Edgerrin James
Reggie Wayne
Steve Atwater
John Lynch
LeRoy Butler
Isaac Bruce
Torry Holt
Zach Thomas
Sam Mills
Tony Boselli
Alan Faneca
Steve Hutchinson
Bryant Young
Richard Seymour
- Wild Card Weekend
-Bills at Texans (Analysis, Game Picks)
-Titans at Patriots (Analysis, Game Picks)
-Vikings at Saints (Analysis, Game Picks)
-Seahawks at Eagles (Analysis, Game Picks)
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: Kirk Cousins throws for 350 yards and 3 TD’s in a losing effort
MATT: Tom Brady held under 200 yards and throws 0 TD’s, 2 INT’s
- Challenge Flags
ME: Deshaun Watson…do what you do best
MATT: Home teams…take advantage of your home field and WIN!!!
- Week 16 Takeaways
Me: The five best teams in the NFL right now imo are the Ravens, 49ers, Chiefs, Saints and Patriots. Yet, there is a very good chance that three of those teams will have to be playing on Wild Card Weekend as opposed to watching it in the comfort of their living rooms. This tells me there is also a stronger-than-usual chance that we will see multiple road teams prevail in the Divisional Round, and perhaps the Conference Championships too.
Hal: Bills are a team NOBODY wants to face in the playoffs
- Truth/Exaggeration
-Of all the teams who’ve finished in last place in their respective divisions this season, the Arizona Cardinals are the one in best position to take a sizeable leap forward in 2020
-Unless he gets seriously injured in the College Football Playoff, the Cincinnati Bengals should put Joe Burrow’s name in sharpie on their draft card with the first overall pick
-It would be a scandal of monumental proportions if Chandler Jones does not make the NFL all-decade team of the 2010’s
-The Texans and Bills should follow the lead of the Vikings and Ravens and rest their key players on Sunday
-Michael Thomas’s historic season and the potential HOF career he’s starting to put together should be the ultimate lesson to NFL teams to not make the 40-yard dash the end all/be all of WR evaluations (Thomas ran a 4.57 in the 40)
- Coaching Carousel/Black Monday
-Redskins: Eric Bieniemy, Ron Rivera (who is the better hire? Would you take the job if you were Rivera?)
-Giants: Should they fire Pat Shurmur or does Daniel Jones’ development this season warrant continuity?
-Falcons: Was it the right decision or wrong decision for them to retain Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitroff for 2020?
-Jaguars: Currently, all signs point to both Doug Marrone AND GM Dave Caldwell surviving. Is that a mistake?
-Panthers: Albert Breer reported the Panthers could be interested in Patriots OC Josh McDaniels. What do you think that organization has in place that could lure him away from the Patriots for good?
- Game of the week: 49ers at Seahawks
-Will Russell Wilson likely have to play one of the five best games of his career to date for the Seahawks to pull this one off?
-The 49ers are SORELY missing C Weston Richburg, who they lost for the season in their win over the Saints. While Jarran Reed and Poona Ford aren’t Aaron Donald, they are no slouches. Are those two capable of exposing Richburg’s absence almost as much as Donald did last Saturday?
-While the Seahawks lured Robert Turbin and Marshawn Lynch out of retirement, Pete Carroll said the Seahawks will lean on undrafted rookie Travis Homer for this game. How likely is it that Homer gets the lion’s share of backfield touches?
-Key matchups: Richard Sherman against whoever lines up across from him, George Fant vs. Nick Bosa,
-Game picks
- Picks for remainder of Week 17 games
-Chargers at Chiefs
-Dolphins at Patriots
-Jets at Bills
-Browns at Bengals
-Packers at Lions
-Bears at Vikings
-Falcons at Buccaneers
-Saints at Panthers
-Redskins at Cowboys
-Eagles at Giants
-Cardinals at Rams
-Colts at Jaguars
-Raiders at Broncos
-Steelers at Ravens
-Titans at Texans
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: Chandler Jones sets the single-season sack record by sacking Jared Goff SIX TIMES!!!!
HAL: Daniel Jones 30 completions. 400 yards, 5 TD’s
- Challenge Flags
ME: 49ers/Seahawks game…LIVE UP TO THE HYPE!!!!!
HAL: Jon Gruden and Raiders…TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AND LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY!
- Week 15 Takeaways
Me: It’s time to put Drew Brees in the discussion as one of the five best QB’s of all time
Hal: 49ers with a huge lost opportunity
- Truth/Exaggeration
-The Browns should fire BOTH Freddie Kitchens and John Dorsey
-The Jaguars problems will only get worse if they retain Tom Coughlin
-Matt Patricia will get fired after the 2020 season if the Lions fail to sniff the playoffs
-The Buccaneers should extend Shaq Barrett by February and give Jameis Winston the franchise tag as opposed to a multi-year deal
-The Indianapolis Colts should use their first-round pick on Utah State QB Jordan Love if he significantly impresses them during the pre-draft process
-With their offense re-discovering its 2018 mojo and their defense playing underrated football, the Kansas City Chiefs are the team the Ravens should fear the most in the playoffs
-Kirk Cousins, Dak Prescott, Fred Warner, and Justin Simmons should have made the Pro Bowl as opposed to Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Luke Kuechly and Earl Thomas
-ALL NFC playoff teams outside of New Orleans should be praying hard that the Saints don’t get the NFC’s #1 seed again
- Game of the Week: Bills at Patriots
-Should anybody be surprised if the Bills pull off the upset in Foxboro on Saturday?
-Is there a case for Tre’Davious White as already being on the level of Stephon Gilmore?
-Key matchups: Cole Beasley vs. Devin McCourty, Jordan Phillips and Ed Oliver versus Patriots iOL
-Game picks
- Game of the Week: Packers at Vikings
-While some people may see a high-scoring shootout in this game, I also think a defensive struggle is just as likely, especially given the inconsistencies of the Packers offense and Dalvin Cook looking iffy to play. What do you think?
-X Factors for each team
Packers: Kenny Clark, Jaire Alexander/Kevin King
Vikings: Alexander Mattison, Eric Kendricks/Linval Joseph
-Key matchups: David Bakhtiari/Bryan Bulaga vs. Danielle Hunter/Everson Griffen, Brian O’Neill vs. Za’Darius Smith, Blake Martinez vs. Alexander Mattison
-Game picks
- Picks for remainder of Week 16 games
-Texans at Buccaneers
-Rams at 49ers
-Jaguars at Falcons
-Ravens at Browns
-Saints at Titans
-Panthers at Colts
-Bengals at Dolphins
-Giants at Redskins
-Steelers at Jets
-Lions at Broncos
-Raiders at Chargers
-Cowboys at Eagles
-Cardinals at Seahawks
-Chiefs at Bears
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: Matt Prater wins the game for the Lions on an NFL record 65-yard field goal
HAL: Mitchell Trubisky throws 3 TD’s, 250 pasisng yards, 100 rushing yards
- Challenge Flags
ME: San Francisco 49ers…let last weekend’s loss against the Falcons hurt as bad as it can and let it be your fuel these final two games and in the playoffs
HAL: Jason Garrett, Doug Pederson: WHO WANTS THE NFC EAST????
- Week 14 Takeaways
Me:
-It is the gravest injustice in the history of the NFL that a 12-win team (49ers or Seahawks) will have to go on the road for a playoff game against a 7-8 wins team (Eagles or Cowboys). And even worse? The NFL hasn’t even considered reforming their flawed playoff seeding system, which allows a division winner a home game!!
Matt: Niners with a statement
- Truth/Exaggeration
-The New England Patriots should be docked another first-round draft pick for being caught in an incident that is now being widely coined “Spygate 2.0”
-Barring an absolute implosion over these final three weeks, the Broncos must plan on sinking or swimming with Drew Lock as their unquestioned starting QB in 2020
-The Jets should NOT trade Jamal Adams unless they get a first-round pick, a fourth-round pick, AND an equally talented player in return
-IF Philip Rivers retires or departs in free agency, the Chargers MUST draft a QB in the first round if the right one is there
-If Thomas Dimitroff is retained as Falcons GM, that will be enough to get Josh McDaniels to leave New England this time and become the Falcons head coach
-The Browns should fire both HC Freddie Kitchens AND GM John Dorsey after this season
-Ryan Tannehill deserves serious MVP consideration if the Titans go on to win the AFC South and/or mount a deep playoff run
- Game of the Week: Texans at Titans
-Do you anticipate this game being a shootout? An unexpected defensive struggle? Or somewhere in between?
-X Factors for each team.
Texans: Will Fuller (Me), Deshaun Watson (Matt)
Titans: A.J. Brown (Me), A.J. Brown (Matt)
-Key matchups: Jeffery Simmons versus Texans iOL, Harold Landry versus Chris Clark, Derrick Henry vs. Texans DL
-Game picks
- Game of the Week: Bills at Steelers
-This game certainly has defensive struggle written all over it. Will it surprise you to see both offenses to have a somewhat conservative game plan to try not to turn the ball over and win the field position battle, especially early?
-X Factors for each team
Bills: Devin Singletary, Cole Beasley
Steelers: Diontae Johnson, T.J. Watt
-Key matchups: T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree vs. Dion Dawkins and Cody Ford, Ed Oliver vs. DeCastro/Pouncey
-Game picks
- Picks for remainder of Week 15 games
-Jets at Ravens
-Patriots at Bengals
-Dolphins at Giants
-Eagles at Redskins
-Bears at Packers
-Buccaneers at Lions
-Broncos at Chiefs
-Seahawks at Panthers
-Jaguars at Raiders
-Browns at Cardinals
-Vikings at Chargers
-Rams at Cowboys
-Falcons at 49ers
-Colts at Saints
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: Tom Brady throws for 400 yards and 4 TD’s
MATT: Deebo Samuel puts up numbers like Emmanuel Sanders did against New Orleans
- Challenge Flags
ME: Jaguars and Cowboys: SHOW SOME FIGHT!!!!
MATT: Titans/Texans, Bills/Steelers…LIVE UP TO THE HYPE!!!
-
What is the latest you’re hearing on Tua Tagovailoa’s decision?
-
If Tua’s med checks don’t come back clean, how high can you see Oregon’s Justin Herbert being taken in round one? Do you think he will attend the Senior Bowl at the moment?
-
If you thought the 2014 WR class was epic, this exceptionally talented and deep 2020 WR class has the potential to be the best in NFL history. When you look at the very top of the WR board, you can make a case for either Jerry Jeudy or CeeDee Lamb being the first WR taken off the board. But since the NFL is falling increasingly in love with smaller, faster receivers that are a threat to take it to the house every time they touch the ball, would it surprise you if Henry Ruggs is the first WR taken? How many WR’s can you see being taken in round 1?
-
Another position group that looks pretty good in this draft is OT. The top two on most Draft Twitter boards at the moment are Georgia’s Andrew Thomas and Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs. But another guy who may be making the move up to that tier is Alabama’s Jedrick Wills. Dane Brugler had him as the top OT off the board in the mock draft he did last week. Can you see him being the consensus top OT in this class when all is set and done?
-
While Joe Burrow may indeed be the first overall pick (especially if the Bengals remain in that spot), most everybody agrees the best prospect period in this draft is edge rusher Chase Young from Ohio State. Aside from his freakish athleticism and stellar production, what makes him so special?
-
Both you and I will be headed to Mobile, Alabama for the Senior Bowl next month. A position group I’m excited to watch down there is the DT group. Both South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw and Alabama’s Raekwon Davis have accepted their invites, and Auburn’s Derrick Brown (currently the cream of the crop at this position) is expected by some to accept his as well. What makes Brown so intriguing and do you think Kinlaw, Davis, or anybody else has a shot to close the gap on him before draft day?
-
Which other position groups that we haven’t covered seem strong to you as far as this 2020 draft class goes?
- Week 13 Takeaways
Me:
-Regardless of how the Steelers season ends, give Mike Tomlin Coach of the Year honors!!!!
Hal: Could we be headed for a Super Bowl XLVII rematch in February?
- Truth/Exaggeration
-The Broncos should put Von Miller and his MCL sprain on ice for the remainder of the season
-Tom Brady only has at MOST three years remaining in his illustrious NFL career
-If the Tennessee Titans make it to the playoffs, they’ll be the team NOBODY wants to face
-The Seahawks and 49ers are not only on a collision course to likely decide who wins the division in Week 17, but on a collision course to meet a third time in the playoffs as well!
-After Sunday’s loss to the Duck Hodges-led Steelers. Freddie Kitchens is back on the hot seat in Cleveland and a top candidate to be fired at season’s end
-Baylor head coach Matt Rhule should be the number one candidate for all NFL teams with a head coaching vacancy
- Coaching Carousel
-Most ideal potential landing spot for Ron Rivera: Jaguars, Giants, Falcons, Lions, Browns, Redskins, Cowboys
-Top candidates for Panthers job:
- Game of the Week: Ravens at Bills
-No defense other than the 49ers has done a better job against the Ravens offense this season. How capable is the Bills defense of doing as good or an even better job containing Lamar Jackson than the Niners did?
-How much more dangerous does the emergence of Ed Oliver make this Buffalo D? What does he add that wasn’t there earlier in the season?
-Everybody, and rightfully so, is praising the Ravens for designing a run first offense to suit Lamar Jackson’s strengths. But shouldn’t more people be saying the same about the Bills and what they’ve done with Josh Allen? According to ESPN’s Field Yates, both QB’s have a combined 1,407 rushing yards this season and on Sunday, that will represent the highest such total by opposing QB’s in the same game in NFL history. Josh Allen was heavily doubted by most (myself included) during the pre-draft process in 2018. How has he exceeded your expectations so far?
-Key matchups: Tremaine Edmunds vs. Lamar Jackson, Ed Oliver versus any Ravens interior OL not named Marshal Yanda, Hollywood Brown vs. Tre’Davious White
-Game picks
- Game of the Week: 49ers at Saints
-Just like the Patriots passing game has enormous questions outside of Julian Edelman, the Saints passing game has enormous questions outside of Michael Thomas. None of their two other main WR’s (Tre’Quan Smith and Ted Ginn, Jr.) have had more than two receptions in a game since Week 3. Do you see the 49ers coming up with a similar plan for this game as the Texans had for the Patriots last week (double Thomas and daring Smith and Ginn to beat them)?
-The 49ers almost did everything right last week to beat the Ravens. The main difference in the game turned out to be arguably Jimmy Garoppolo’s first quarter fumble. Could a turnover-free performance from Garoppolo this week be THE key to a Niners win?
-Key matchups: Fred Warner vs. Alvin Kamara, DeForest Buckner vs. Eric McCoy,
-Game picks
- Game of the Week: Chiefs at Patriots
-What did the Texans do to get more than their fair share of big plays in the passing game against the Patriots secondary last weekend and how can the Chiefs do so?
-X Factors: How significant can the presence of Mecole Hardman be in this game? If there is a Patriots pass catcher not named Edelman or James White that can go off against this Chiefs pass defense, who is it?
-Key matchups: Tyreek Hill vs. Stephon Gilmore, Chiefs RB’s/Travis Kelce vs. Patriots LB’s
-Game picks
- Week 12 Takeaways
Me:
-The Los Angeles Rams are in trouble. BIG trouble. Their $112 million “franchise” QB Jared Goff has been exposed as a QB who is only as good as his offensive line is, as evidenced by the decline of that unit and his 0 TD/5 INT, 4 fumble, 58.9 passer rating month of November. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. WHY? First, they’re going to be hamstrung by the salary cap next season. According to OverTheCap.com, they will have over $95 million tied up into four players: Goff, Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley (who is WAY past his prime due to his arthritic knee), and Brandin Cooks…and dead cap charges make it impossible to release any of them. Next, most of their estimated $26 million in cap space will likely have to go toward re-signing Jalen Ramsey, for whom they traded away their 2020 AND 2021 first round picks. Thus, due to the lack of financial capital and high-end draft capital, it’s going to take a miracle of miracles for them to rebuild that OL and help get Jared Goff back on track these next few seasons…and to top it off, their best OL (Andrew Whitworth) is likely retiring after this season. NOBODY should be surprised if the Rams end up in the NFC West cellar as early as next season.
Matt: Three top teams did not play well: Patriots, Saints, Packers
- Truth/Exaggeration
-The Giants and Lions should put Saquon Barkley and Matthew Stafford, respectively, on the shelf for the remainder of the 2019 season
-The Tennessee Titans biggest offseason priority should be extending Ryan Tannehill
-Although Jason Garrett deserves to be fired, Jerry Jones remains the Cowboys biggest problem
-The Jaguars should go back to Gardner Minshew at QB to close out the season, especially if Nick Foles continues to lay eggs
-Lamar Jackson has now pulled ahead of Russell Wilson in the 2019 NFL MVP race
- Coaching Carousel: Fire or Retain?
-Bengals: Zac Taylor
-Giants: Pat Shurmur
-Falcons: Dan Quinn
-Jaguars: Doug Marrone
-Lions: Matt Patricia
- Game of the Week: 49ers at Ravens
-What makes this game so unique (aside from it being a potential Super Bowl preview) is that it’s a battle between an unstoppable force (Lamar Jackson and the Ravens O) against an immovable object (49ers defense). And BOTH sides have players and schemes that can PERFECTLY exploit weaknesses and nullify strengths of the other, don’t they?
-Is this arguably the biggest game of Jimmy Garoppolo’s career to date? Like if the Ravens score early and often, this will likely be the game where he MUST prove that he can go toe-to-toe with elite QB’s in a shootout
-Key matchups: Fred Warner vs. Lamar Jackson, D.J. Jones vs Ravens backup center
-Game picks
- Game Predictions
-Bears at Lions
-Bills at Cowboys
-Saints at Falcons
-Browns at Steelers
-Jets at Bengals
-Eagles at Dolphins
-Titans at Colts
-Packers at Giants
-Redskins at Panthers
-Buccaneers at Jaguars
-Rams at Cardinals
-Chargers at Broncos
-Raiders at Chiefs
-Patriots at Texans
-Vikings at Seahawks
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: Cole Beasley goes berserk against his former team on Thanksgiving catching 10 passes for 150 yards and 2 TD
MATT: Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs combine for 300 yards and 3 TD’s
- Challenge Flags
ME: Texans. Don’t make the same mistake the Cowboys did and scheme creative ways to get DeAndre Hopkins open against Stephon Gilmore
MATT: Browns. PROVE you’re not the same old Browns!!
Hal joins me to preview Week 12 of the 2019 NFL season. Topics include:
-Should the Falcons keep Dan Quinn if they continue this level of play?
-Time for the Duck in Pittsburgh?
-Why Dak Prescott has become a legit franchise QB
-Ideas for the new NFL CBA
-Breakdown of Sunday night's Packers/49ers game
...and A LOT MORE!!!!!!!!!
- Week 10 Takeaways
Me:
-So much for the “Fish Tank” in Miami. The Dolphins are now winners of two straight games…and their previous three losses have been by an average of eight points. This borderline bare cupboard of a roster is playing HARD football, and that is a testament to the incredible job Brian Flores is doing as head coach. The Dolphins MUST keep him for at least three more seasons. He has proven himself to be THE guy to see this rebuild through.
Hal: The Steelers defense is for real
- Truth/Exaggeration (Division race edition)
-AFC West (The Raiders have an EXCELLENT chance to overtake the Chiefs and win the AFC West)
CHIEFS REMAINING SCHEDULE RAIDERS REMAINING SCHEDULE
@ Chargers Bengals
BYE @ Jets
Raiders @ Chiefs
@ Patriots Titans
Broncos Jaguars
@ Bears @ Chargers
Chargers @ Broncos
-NFC North (The NFC North battle will likely be decided when these two teams meet Week 16 on Monday Night Football)
PACKERS REMAINING SCHEDULE VIKINGS REMAINING SCHEDULE
BYE Broncos
@ 49ers BYE
@ Giants @ Seahawks
Redskins Lions
Bears @ Chargers
@ Vikings Packers
@ Lions Bears
-NFC West (Whoever wins the Week 17 matchup, wins the NFC West)
49ERS REMAINING SCHEDULE SEAHAWKS REMAINING SCHEDULE
Cardinals Bye
Packers @ Eagles
@ Ravens Vikings
@ Saints @ Rams
Falcons @ Panthers
Rams Cardinals
@ Seahawks 49ers
-Given their easier schedule the rest of the way, the Eagles should be at least slightly favored to win the NFC East
- GAME OF THE WEEK: Texans at Ravens
-The Texans defense did an excellent job minus JJ Watt against the Jaguars a few weeks ago. But know they face MVP candidate Lamar Jackson and that MONSTROUS Ravens ground attack. Do you have tremendous concern that the absences of both Watt AND Jadeveon Clowney will be felt big time in this game?
-The Ravens defense did a tremendous job a few weeks ago against Russell Wilson. What makes Deshaun Watson and the Texans O just as difficult for them to defend (if not more so)?
-Game deciding matchups: DeAndre Hopkins vs. Marcus Peters
-Game Predictions
- Waiver Wire: Gem or Garbage?
-Nick Foles
-Brian Hill
-Derrius Guice
-Dede Westbrook
-Diontae Johnson
-Jacob Hollister
-Noah Fant
- Game Predictions
-Steelers at Browns
-Bills at Dolphins
-Jets at Redskins
-Cowboys at Lions
-Broncos at Vikings
-Jaguars at Colts
-Falcons at Panthers
-Saints at Buccaneers
-Cardinals at 49ers
-Patriots at Eagles
-Bengals at Raiders
-Bears at Rams
-Chiefs at Chargers
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: Minkah Fitzpatrick picks off Baker Mayfield THREE times
HAL: Kyler Murray 4 TD’s (3 passing, 1 rushing), 300+ yards passing, 100+ yards rushing
- Challenge Flags
ME: Rams. Every game from here on out is a playoff game. Either feed Todd Gurley 20 touches per game or come clean about his health once and for all
HAL: Jon Gruden and Raiders…MAKE THE PLAYOFFS!!!!
- Week 9 Takeaways
Me:
-12 teams have three wins or less at the halfway point of the season. Last season, only one team (Cardinals) finished the season with three wins or less. That number is almost certain to rise this year. It will be fascinating to see by how much and whether or not it forces certain teams to try to “tank” harder for a better draft pick.
Matt: Home teams dominate after a season of historical success for road teams
- Truth/Exaggeration
-Minkah Fitzpatrick is a serious contender for DPOY honors
-After the season, the Jaguars should trade either Nick Foles or Gardner Minshew
-Cam Newton has played his last snap as a Carolina Panther
-For the remainder of the season, the Chicago Bears must roll the dice and use Mitchell Trubisky the same way the Ravens used Lamar Jackson late last season
-Three years from now, Lamar Jackson will be regarded as THE best QB from the 2018 draft class
-The Niners and Saints are starting to separate themselves from the rest of the pack in the battle for the NFC
-Regardless of what happens the rest of this season, Vic Fangio has made a convincing case that the Broncos must ride with him for at least two more seasons as they move forward with their rebuild
- GAME OF THE WEEK: Seahawks at 49ers
-The 49ers are for real, but they face arguably their biggest test of the season with Russell Wilson coming to town. And their vaunted defense suffered a major loss last week as LB Kwon Alexander suffered a season ending torn pectoral. How will the Niners compensate for his absence, specifically in this game?
-Russell Wilson is obviously having an MVP caliber season and a big reason why is he arguably has his most explosive WR duo to date in Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. And that explosive duo just might have become an explosive trio as the Seahawks claimed Josh Gordon off waivers from the Patriots last week. How much more dangerous does Gordon make the Seattle aerial attack?
-Game deciding matchups: Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny/49ers LB’s in passing game, 49ers DL vs. Seahawks OL
-Game Predictions
- This or That?
-Who would you give the NFL MVP to if the season ended today: Russell Wilson or Lamar Jackson?
-Who would you name NFL Assistant Coach of the Year if the season ended today: Robert Saleh or Greg Roman?
-Which city will be a better market for the Chargers should they decide to move again: London or St. Louis?
-Whose 2019 draft class looks more impressive so far: Jaguars or Raiders?
- Game Predictions
-Chargers at Raiders
-Chiefs at Titans
-Bills at Browns
-Ravens at Bengals
-Lions at Bears
-Giants at Jets
-Falcons at Saints
-Cardinals at Buccaneers
-Dolphins at Colts
-Panthers at Packers
-Rams at Steelers
-Vikings at Cowboys
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: Christian McCaffrey totals over 300 scrimmage yards
MATT: Kyler Murray and Jameis Winston combine for 9 TD’s
- Challenge Flags
ME: Kirk Cousins, SILENCE THE DOUBTERS AND WIN A CLOSE GAME IN THE FOURTH QUARTER!!!!!
MATT: Browns and Jets, FIRE YOUR COACHES THIS WEEEKEND!!!!!!!!!
- Week 8 Takeaways
Me:
-As Herm Edwards famously said “You play to win the game.” And it’s a MAJOR disappointment that many teams, in this new, uber-aggressive, offensive centric NFL still don’t get the point. Matt Nagy, WHY did you take a knee with 43 seconds left and one timeout left rather than gain more yards to make the game winning FG attempt easier. Broncos OC Rich Scangarello, WHY run a predictable draw on 3rd-and-5 rather than go for the kill to get the first down to ice the game? And Andy Reid, on a night when your defense struggled to contain Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones, AND when Matt Moore played very efficient football in place of Patrick Mahomes, WHY DID YOU PUNT on 4th and 3 near midfield with three minutes left in the game??
Hal: Welcome back Drew Brees! Cooper Kupp is on fire!
- Midseason Awards
Honor David Hal
MVP Aaron Rodgers Aaron Rodgers
Offensive POY Dalvin Cook Russell Wilson
Defensive POY Stephon Gilmore Shaq Barrett
Offensive ROY Gardner Minshew Josh Jacobs
Defensive ROY Nick Bosa Nick Bosa
Comeback POY Cooper Kupp Cooper Kupp
Coach Of The Year Frank Reich Bill Belichick
Assistant Coach Of The Year Robert Saleh (49ers DC) Robert Saleh (49ers DC)
- Truth/Exaggeration
-If the Bears continue to implode, both Ryan Pace AND Matt Nagy should be fired
-The relationship between Jamal Adams and the Jets has suffered irreparable harm
-In the offseason, the Bengals should try to trade Andy Dalton for a second or third-round pick before they release him
-The new pass interference challenge rule is worthless and will be scrapped before next season
-The Titans should re-sign Ryan Tannehill regardless of what their 2020 draft plans are at QB
-The Broncos should release Joe Flacco after this season and make 2020 mainly about helping Drew Lock become successful and “building the nest” so to speak around him
- GAME OF THE WEEK: Patriots at Ravens
-With Nick Chubb running for 121 yards against the Pats last week, how ominous of a sign is it for the Patriots defense going up against the electric Lamar Jackson and that run-centric Ravens offense? Is the Ravens offense the biggest challenge for this Patriots defense so far this season?
-Bill Belichick always makes offenses beat him with their weakest link, so you can expect the Patriots to stack the box early and often to take away the run. That said, that could leave an opening for the Ravens to exploit in the middle of the field with their stud second-year TE Mark Andrews. And as we saw last week, the Patriots LB’s still struggle to cover TE’s so they may have their hands full with Andrews as well, no?
-Game-deciding matchups: Stephon Gilmore vs. Mark Andrews, Ravens OL vs. Patriots DL
-Game Predictions
- Waiver Wire: Gem or Garbage?
-Kenyan Drake
-Mark Walton
-Darius Slayton
-Chris Conley
-Jonnu Smith
- Game Predictions
-49ers at Cardinals
-Texans at Jaguars (London, 9:30 AM ET)
-Redskins at Bills
-Vikings at Chiefs
-Jets at Dolphins
-Bears at Eagles
-Colts at Steelers
-Titans at Panthers
-Lions at Raiders
-Buccaneers at Seahawks
-Browns at Broncos
-Packers at Chargers
-Cowboys at Giants
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: Deshaun Watson throws for 350+ yards and 3 TD, but Gardner Minshew outduels him, throwing for 400+ yards and 4 TD
HAL: Ravens are going to become the first team to score 20+ points against the Patriots this season, and Lamar Jackson throws three TD’s!!!
- Week 7 Takeaways
Me:
-Four weeks ago, virtually every analyst and prognosticator (myself included) was calling Kirk Cousins a wasted signing for the Vikings. Fast forward to now, he’s made us all look like IDIOTS!!! The last three weeks, Cousins has completed 75.6% of his passed for 976 yards, 10 TD and 1 INT. He also is now tied for the league lead in yards per pass attempt AND he became the ONLY QB in NFL history with at least three straight games of at least 300 passing yards and a QBR of 130.0 or better. Nothing makes me happier than when players prove us wrong…so BRAVO Kirk Cousins and keep it up!!!
Hal: The re-emergence of Aaron Rodgers and the Packers passing attack. Is Kyle Allen the new Dak Prescott and Cam the new Romo?
- Truth/Exaggeration
-The Indianapolis Colts should be a team NOBODY wants to play going forward
-Lamar Jackson has a strong case for NFL MVP through the first seven weeks
-The Bears should bench Mitchell Trubisky for Chase Daniel if he lays another egg this weekend
-The Eagles should send the Broncos their 2020 second-round pick for Chris Harris, Jr.
-It will take 16 losses for the Dolphins to get the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft
-The NFL should force a sale of the Denver Broncos in two years (if not sooner) if their ownership situation remains unresolved by then
-If Patrick Mahomes is not 100% four or five weeks from now, he shouldn’t risk further injury and undergo season-ending surgery to get healthy for 2020
- GAME OF THE WEEK: Panthers at 49ers
-We all know how great the 49ers defense has been this season, but the Panthers bring a similar unit that should no longer be slept on. Just how good is this underrated Panthers defense? Given the 49ers injuries at OT, is this a golden opportunity for the Panthers to make a pretty big statement?
-How should we expect the 49ers to utilize Emmanuel Sanders in this game?
-Game deciding matchups: Sam Young/Daniel Brunskill versus Brian Burns, Matt Paradis/Trai Turner versus DeForest Buckner
-Game Predictions
- Waiver Wire: Gem or Garbage?
-Mason Rudolph
-DaeSean Hamilton
-Mohamed Sanu
-Ty Johnson
-Irv Smith, Jr.
-Jimmy Graham
- Game Predictions
-Redskins at Vikings
-Chargers at Bears
-Giants at Lions
-Eagles at Bills
-Broncos at Colts
-Buccaneers at Titans
-Jets at Jaguars
-Bengals at Rams
-Cardinals at Saints
-Seahawks at Falcons
-Browns at Patriots
-Raiders at Texans
-Packers at Chiefs
-Dolphins at Steelers
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: Kirk Cousins throws for 400 yards, 7 TD’s and 0 INT
HAL: Chase Edmonds runs for 200 yards and 2 TD’s
- Challenge Flags
ME: Seahawks, BE MORE AGGRESSIVE AND UNLEASH RUSSELL WILSON WHEN YOU NEED HIM THE MOST!!!
HAL: Andy Reid…get the Chiefs right FAST as you wait for Mahomes to heal. Split these next four games
- Week 6 Takeaways
Me:
-Officiating in the NFL (or in any sport) will NEVER be perfect, but it IS perfectible, and the NFL is ruining its product by not taking drastic steps to make it so. It is time for the so-called “Sky Judge” recommended by the coaches and for MUCH harsher penalties for officials with a habit of repeatedly blowing calls.
Matt: Defenses rule in the NFL right now. Patriots and 49ers, the two lone undefeated teams, are winning with defense.
- Truth/Exaggeration
-The Rams will regret trading two first-round picks for Jalen Ramsey in the long term
-Jameis Winston is beyond repair, even for Bruce Arians
-Freddie Kitchens should give up the play-calling duties to OC Todd Monken
-With a healthy Sam Darnold, and the league’s easiest remaining schedule, the Jets are a team we shouldn’t be sleeping on in the playoff race
-The Cowboys should NOT break the bank for Dak Prescott this offseason and make him play 2020 on the franchise tag instead
-The Panthers, if they continue winning, should keep Kyle Allen as the starting QB even if Cam Newton is 100% healthy
- GAME OF THE WEEK: Texans at Colts
-Both of these teams are in the top five in rushing offense (the Colts at number four at 142 rushing YPG, the Texans at number five at 139.8 yards per game). Do you think whichever running game has the better day likely wins this game?
-This Colts defense is coming off an IMPRESSIVE performance against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs and this week, they get Darius Leonard back and maybe Malik Hooker as well. How difficult of a test will they be for Deshaun Watson and company?
-Game deciding matchups: J.J. Watt versus Quenton Nelson and Colts iOL, Darius Leonard versus Deshaun Watson
-Game Predictions
- Fantasy Football: Buy Low, Sell High
-Chris Godwin (Sell High)
-Mike Evans (Buy Low)
-Nick Chubb (Sell High)
-George Kittle (Buy Low)
- Waiver Wire: Gem or Garbage?
-Sam Darnold
-Latavius Murray
-Jamaal Williams
-Benny Snell
-Jamison Crowder
-Dawson Knox
- Game Predictions
-Chiefs at Broncos
-Raiders at Packers
-Vikings at Lions
-Dolphins at Bills
-Jaguars at Bengals
-49ers at Redskins
-Cardinals at Giants
-Rams at Falcons
-Saints at Bears
-Chargers at Titans
-Ravens at Seahawks
-Eagles at Cowboys
-Patriots at Jets
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: Kyler Murray and Daniel Jones combine for 800 passing yards
MATT: Leonard Fournette runs for 200+ yards and 2 TD's
- Challenge Flags
ME: Chargers. FEED Austin Ekeler. According to acclaimed fantasy football analyst Evan Silva, since Melvin Gordon’s return, 15 of his 20 carries have netted 3 yards or less. 8 of his 11 targets have netted three yards or less. That’s just a 2.77 yards per touch average…and to top it off…only ONE of those touches gained a first down. Austin Ekeler has been the FAR superior player this season….and you better be giving him at LEAST more than 50% of the touches going forward.
MATT: Patriots and 49ers: DO NOT FALL VICTIM TO A TRAP GAME
- Week 5 Takeaways
Me:
-The NFL may not be the passing league many think it is. Per Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News, in Week 5, there were nine 300-yard passers and nine 100-yard rushers. The combined record of those passers last week? 4-5. The combined record of those runners? 8-1. Yes, passing is still king in the modern NFL, but running the ball is no less essential than it was in 1991. Just ask the 49ers, Colts, and Raiders who are off to excellent starts in large part due to their ground games.
Hal: 10 games where we had teams within one score in the 4th quarter!!!!!
- Truth/Exaggeration
-The Raiders will finish 2019 with a better record than the Chargers
-Vontaze Burfict should never play another down in the NFL
-Freddie Kitchens and Adam Gase are more likely than not to be one and done head coaches barring dramatic improvement from their teams
-Russell Wilson is now tied with (or even ahead of) Patrick Mahomes in the race for 2019 NFL MVP
-The AFC North is the worst division in the NFL right now
-The Cowboys should fire Jason Garrett and hire Lincoln Riley (who has his eyes on the Cowboy HC position) if they fail to reach the NFC Championship game
- GAME OF THE WEEK: 49ers at Rams
-Should the 49ers be willing to air it out more than the Seahawks did last week?
-Does Aaron Donald need to have his best game of the 2019 season in order for the Rams to get back on track with a win on Sunday?
-Game deciding matchups: Aaron Donald vs. George Kittle in run game, Nick Bosa and DeForest Buckner vs. Rams iOL
-Game Predictions
- Fantasy Football: Cut or Keep?
-Baker Mayfield
-David Montgomery
-Miles Sanders
-Sammy Watkins
-O.J. Howard
- Waiver Wire: Gem or Garbage?
-Chase Edmonds
-Byron Pringle
-Auden Tate
-Gerald Everett
- Game Predictions
-Giants at Patriots
-Panthers at Buccaneers
-Saints at Jaguars
-Texans at Chiefs
-Seahawks at Browns
-Bengals at Ravens
-Redskins at Dolphins
-Eagles at Vikings
-Falcons at Cardinals
-Titans at Broncos
-Cowboys at Jets
-Steelers at Chargers
-Lions at Packers
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: Cody Parkey wins the game for the Titans on a 60+ yard FG in overtime
HAL: Saints take late 21-20 lead….but Minshew gets Jacksonville into FG range and Jags win 23-21
- Challenge Flags
ME: 49ers. Make an even bigger statement on Sunday and shut the remaining doubters up. Stay true to who you are. Pound the ball and harass Jared Goff.
HAL: Bills. Keep carrying this team Bills D!!!!! Make it a battle for the AFC East in December!
- Week 4 Takeaways
Me:
-So much for the regression of the Bears defense. They neutralized Dalvin Cook, easily the NFL’s most dynamic RB through the first three weeks MINUS Akiem Hicks AND Roquan Smith. Moreover, Chuck Pagano helped get career days out of their respective replacements in Nick Williams and Nick Kwiatkowski.
-2019 hasn’t been kind to the blue chip prospects of the 2018 NFL Draft. Saquon Barkley (high ankle sprain), Denzel Ward (hamstring issue), Bradley Chubb (torn ACL), Roquan Smith (away from team indefinitely due to mysterious personal reasons), Josh Rosen (set up to fail…again).
Hal:
- Quarter Pole Awards
Honor David Hal
MVP Patrick Mahomes Patrick Mahomes
Offensive POY Christian McCaffrey Keeenan Allen
Defensive POY Shaq Barrett Shaq Barrett
Offensive ROY Gardner Minshew Daniel Jones
Defensive ROY Nick Bosa Brian Burns
Comeback POY Dalvin Cook Dalvin Cook
Coach Of The Year Matt Patricia Bruce Arians
Assistant Coach Of The Year Todd Bowles (Bucs DC) Mike Pettine (Packers DC)
- Truth/Exaggeration
-Both the Dolphins AND the Broncos will finish 2019 0-16
-Jaguars OC John DeFilippo will be a head coach in 2020
-Jameis Winston will sign the next biggest NFL QB contract some time this season if he keeps playing the way he has the past two weeks
-Vikings should fire Mike Zimmer AND Rick Spielman if they fail to make the playoffs
-Falcons head coach Dan Quinn’s seat is now RED hot, maybe even WHITE hot
- GAME OF THE WEEK: Packers at Cowboys
-With Davante Adams unlikely to play in this game with a toe injury, which Packers pass catcher needs to step up the most?
-The Cowboys clearly missed Michael Gallup in Sunday night’s loss in New Orleans. With that stingy Packers secondary coming to town, which of their pass catchers outside of Amari Cooper needs to step up the most?
-Game-deciding matchups: Jaire Alexander vs. Amari Cooper. Preston/Za’Darius Smith vs. Cameron Fleming, Kenny Clark vs. Travis Frederick/Cowboys iOL, Bakhtiari/Bulaga versus Demarcus Lawrence/Robert Quinn
-Game Predictions
- Waiver Wire: Gem or Garbage?
-Courtland Sutton
-Golden Tate
-Darrel Williams
-Chris Herndon
- Game Predictions
-Rams at Seahawks
-Cardinals at Bengals
-Ravens at Steelers
-Jaguars at Panthers
-Falcons at Texans
-Buccaneers at Saints
-Bills at Titans
-Jets at Eagles
-Patriots at Redskins
-Vikings at Giants
-Bears at Raiders (London)
-Broncos at Chargers
-Colts at Chiefs
-Browns at 49ers
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: Austin Ekeler and Melvin Gordon run for 350 rushing yards against the Broncos
HAL: Jacoby Brissett throws for 4 TD’s and runs for two…and Mahomes throws for six and Chiefs win 55-45
- Challenge Flags
ME: John Elway. Acknowledge the Broncos are rebuilding…which they are. Be patient. No more cutting corners by bringing in overpriced veterans and playing them ahead of young talent. Stick with Fangio for at least two more seasons and continue to focus on rebuilding through the DRAFT.
HAL: Broncos, Bengals, Jets, Redskins, Cardinals, and Dolphins: KEEP FIGHTING EACH WEEK
- Week 2 Takeaways
-Me: The NFL MUST make its officials full-time employees after a lot of disastrous missed calls on Sunday. Here are a few that stood out. Even though it didn’t make the difference in the game, Jared Goff’s arm clearly wasn’t going forward and Cameron Jordan should’ve had a fumble-six. And while most of the attention in that wild Bears/Broncos game is going to be on the roughing the passer call on Bradley Chubb that shouldn’t have been (and rightfully so), the game shouldn’t have been still in play late as a careless, inadvertent whistle robbed the Bears of a Kyle Fuller pick-six. Are officials mainly to blame for the final outcome in that thrilling finish at Mile High? Of course not. But the NFL clearly needs people willing to devote every second to improving their officiating craft so we don’t have as many of these mistakes in the future
-Hal: Patrick Mahomes just keeps IMPROVING!!!!
- 2-0 teams (Contender or Imposter)
-Bills
-Ravens
-Packers
-Seahawks
-49ers
- This or That
-Which of these two NFC teams would you be more scared to face: Cowboys or Rams?
-Which of these two teams should send the Jaguars two first-round picks for Jalen Ramsey: Eagles or Cowboys?
-Who is more likely to win the NFC South: Bucs or Falcons?
-Who would you rather have as your team’s head coach: Adam Gase or Eric Bieniemy?
-Now that the Dolphins have the Steelers 2020 first-round pick courtesy of the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade, which QB-needy team should they fear the most in the #TankForTua sweepstakes: Bengals or Broncos?
-Which QB would you rather have long-term: Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen?
- GAME OF THE WEEK: Ravens at Chiefs
-Last week, Kyler Murray and the Cardinals found some holes in the Ravens defense, particularly in the vertical passing game. How ominous of a sign is that for Baltimore going into Arrowhead and facing arguably the best QB in the NFL right now? What adjustments do the Ravens need to make from last week’s outing?
-The Chiefs D had a much improved showing last week in Oakland compared to Week 1, but now they face the red hot Lamar Jackson and this explosive Ravens offense. What will they have to do defensively to slow down Lamar and company…and do they have the personnel to do it?
-Game deciding matchups
-Prediction
-STAT OF THE WEEK: Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes are the only QB’s in the Super Bowl era to have a 70+ completion percentage, 7+ passing TD’s and 0 INT through the first two games of a season (via NFL Research)
- Set My Lineup (Will, 0.5 PPR)
-QB: Lamar
-RB: Damien Williams, Mack, Singletary, Jackson, Chris Thompson
-WR: Davante Adams, Amari Cooper, Michael Thomas, DJax, ARob
-Flex:
-TE: Delanie Walker, Mark Andrews
- Waiver Wire: Gem or Garbage?
-Deebo Samuel
-Demarcus Robinson
-Mecole Hardman
-A.J. Brown
-Darren Waller
-Ito Smith
- Game Predictions
-Titans at Jaguars
-Lions at Eagles
-Dolphins at Cowboys
-Broncos at Packers
-Raiders at Vikings
-Bengals at Bills
-Falcons at Colts
-Jets at Patriots
-Panthers at Cardinals
-Giants at Buccaneers
-Texans at Chargers
-Steelers at 49ers
-Saints at Seahawks
-Rams at Browns
-Bears at Redskins
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
ME: Gardner Minshew leads a 90-yard GW TD drive in the final two minutes
HAL: Daniel Jones 300 yards passing 3 TD’s
- Challenge Flags
ME: Kirk Cousins. Make more plays, but DON’T TRY TO PLAY HERO BALL!!
HAL:Steelers, Colts, Saints, Panthers, Jets….find that balance on offense without your star QB, step up on D and special teams. Make it happen!!!
- Week 1 Takeaways
Me:
-Smaller (6’0” or under), faster wide receivers are the newest trend in the NFL….and Sunday showed you why, In recent years, the NFL seems to have preferred speed over size in the draft when it comes to WR. See John Ross in 2017, and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown this year. Both combined for 11 receptions, 305 yards and 4 TD’s in Week 1. Also, DeSean Jackson, in his return to Philly, went 8/154/2 and Redskins rookie Terry McLaurin went 5/125/1 in the same game, and could’ve had another long TD if not for a Case Keenum overthrow.
-Titans D could be the NFL’s best this season
Hal:
- Truth/Exaggeration
-If the Dallas Cowboys offense maintains the level of play they showed against the Giants all season long, Kellen Moore will be a head coach in 2020
-Dalvin Cook will be a serious contender for the 2019 NFL rushing title if he stays healthy
-Gardner Minshew will steal the starting job away from Nick Foles in Jacksonville if he continues to play the way he did on Sunday and helps the Jaguars to 5-6 wins by Week 11
-The Bears drafting Mitchell Trubisky ahead of Patrick Mahomes AND Deshaun Watson will go down as one of the biggest mistakes in the history of that franchise
- Saints at Rams
-How concerning was the Saints defensive performance in the first half and on the final Texans drive of the game? What adjustments need to be made on that side of the ball for the Saints on Sunday?
-Jared Goff posted a measly 4.8 YPA last Sunday against the Panthers. What do the Rams need to do in order to get the explosiveness back into the passing game?
-Game-deciding matchups: Aaron Donald vs. Saints iOL, P.J. Williams vs. Cooper Kupp
-Prediction
- Set My Lineup
Andrew (full-point PPR w/Bonus points for 40+ or 50+ plays and return yardage points)
QB: Cam
RB: Mixon, Ingram, Cohen, Burkhead
WR: JuJu, Crowder, DJax, Cooks, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jakeem Grant, McLaurin
Flex: TBD
TE: Hooper
Alex (0.5 Point PPR)
QB: Watson, Rivers, Stafford
RB: Johnson, Michel, Guice (OUT)
WR: Michael Thomas, Keenan Allen, Gallup, James Washington, D.J. Chark
Flex: TBD
TE: Mark Andrews, Vance McDonald, Kyle Rudolph
- Waiver Wire This or That
-Derek Carr or Jacoby Brissett?
-Raheem Mostert or Ronald Jones?
-Terry McLaurin or Tyrell Williams?
-T.J. Hockenson or Darren Waller?
-Titans D or Packers D?
- Rapid Fire Predictions
-Bucs at Panthers
-Vikings at Packers
-Chargers at Lions
-49ers at Bengals
-Seahawks at Steelers
-Cardinals at Ravens
-Bills at Giants
-Cowboys at Redskins
-Patriots at Dolphins
-Colts at Titans
-Jaguars at Texans
-Chiefs at Raiders
-Bears at Broncos
-Eagles at Falcons
-Browns at Jets
- BOLD PREDICTIONS
Me: Patriots lay a fifty-burger on the Dolphins (52-7), Bears sack Joe Flacco 12 TIMES (7 from Khalil Mack)
Hal: Bills blow 16-0 halftime lead. Daniel Jones replaces Eli in second half to throw three TD’s
- Challenge Flags
Me: Mitchell Trubisky…restore the Bears confidence in you by playing as good or better than Derek Carr did against the Broncos
Hal: Mike Zimmer and Vikings….you found a blueprint to maximize Cousins by minimizing him and riding Dalvin Cook. Stick to it!!!
- Truth/Exaggeration
-Given the Seahawks acquisition of Jadeveon Clowney, nobody should be surprised if the Seahawks either give the Rams a season-long run for their money in the NFC West or win that division altogether
-Regardless of how far the Dallas Cowboys go in 2019, they will regret in the long run not extending Dak Prescott before Zeke Elliott
-With the Dolphins trading away Laremy Tunsil, one of the NFL’s rising young stars at a premium position, it screams to you that not only are they tanking 2019, they are tanking for a QB in the 2020 draft whether that be Tua Tagavoiloa or Justin Herbert
-Houston Texans ownership must fire Bill O’Brien if the Texans don’t make it to the AFC Championship game this season
- Packers at Bears
-While most people are eager to see how Aaron Rodgers looks in this Matt LaFleur offense tonight (and rightfully so), I am even more eager to see how this Packers defense looks. Brian Gutekunst has quietly built a unit that I believe has the potential to surprise and take the league by storm this year. Up front, you have the UNDERRATED Kenny Clark on the inside hunting QB’s with new companions in Preston and Za’Darius Smith coming off the edge. And in the secondary, you have a rising young star at corner in Jaire Alexander, former Bear Adrian Amos, and freakish athletic rookie safety Darnell Savage. While flaws remain at ILB (especially in pass coverage), I think this can be a top-10 scoring defense this season. Do you?
-The Bears made one of the best picks in the 2019 NFL Draft by potentially stealing RB David Montgomery in the third round. I foolishly lambasted them for trading Jordan Howard before the draft. Looking at Montgomery’s college tape and minimal, albeit VERY impressive preseason outing, this guy is already a better football player than Jordan Howard. Howard is just a two-down grinder who doesn’t offer anything in the passing game. Montgomery is PHENOMENAL in the passing game, both in receiving and in blitz pickup. It certaintly seems the Bears are counting on the rookie from Iowa State BIG TIME to help ease the burden off of Mitchell Trubisky. Do you think the Bears have found their new Matt Forte, and if so, would you be willing to give him a heavier workload than Jordan Howard ever had in his three seasons as a Bear?
-Game-deciding matchups
-Prediction
- Steelers at Patriots
-There is a bit of a concern on the Patriots when it comes to the OL. C David Andrews is likely out for the entire 2019 season after being hospitalized with blood clots. To fill the void, the Patriots acquired C Russell Bodine from Buffalo in a rare in-division trade. Bodine’s past tape has been below average at best. And in Week 1, he faces a STOUT Steelers interior front (Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt) plus the guy who I predicted to win NFL DROY in 2019, LB Devin Bush. Could this mismatch lead to a Steelers upset in a close game?
-Last season, James Conner made Le’Veon Bell expendable, but little did we know at this time last season that Bell wouldn’t be the only major Steeler offensive weapon leaving town. The Steelers were fed up with Antonio Brown’s off-the-field antics (and he showed you why almost daily this summer) and thus shipped him to the Raiders. That said, shipping away a likely future Hall of Fame WR likely doesn’t improve your offense, but JuJu Smith-Schuster is a star in the making, Conner is back healthy, and Vance McDonald looks primed for a breakout season at TE. Do you think this Steelers offense still has more than enough firepower to keep up with the Patriots?
-Game-deciding matchups
-Prediction
-
If the Bucs 2019 season can be summed in two words, those words are clearly Jameis Winston. This is the final year of his rookie contract and to give him his last best chance, the Bucs lured the QB whisperer himself Bruce Arians out of retirement to be their new head coach. Arians track record speaks for itself and if he can’t get the best out of Jameis, nobody can. If Jameis underwhelms this season, do you see the Bucs doing all they can to get the QB they want in the 2020 draft?
-
The fantasy appeal for this Bucs passing attack under Arians is mouth-watering. You obviously have Mike Evans (20.2 ADP) but Chris Godwin (43.4 ADP) is somebody the fantasy community and the Bucs are equally high on. Evans himself said he and Godwin are competing for that WR1 role. Would it surprise you if Godwin had as many or more receptions, receiving yards and TD’s as Evans?
-
Last year, the Bucs had one of the worst defenses in the NFL. While they may have added Todd Bowles, who is a fantastic DC, as well a potential DROY candidate in Devin White, still a lot of holes and question marks remain on this side of the ball. Jason Pierre Paul is likely out until November at the earliest, meaning their best pass rusher is Carl Nassib, a very solid, but not great player. Their much-maligned secondary is also young and unproven. Does this look like another bottom-five defense to you?
-
In 2018, Matt Ryan had the best season of his career outside his 2016 MVP campaign. He became just the fifth QB in NFL history to throw for 35 TD’s AND miss the playoffs. One of the two biggest reasons the Falcons missed the playoffs was their OL struggles. Outside of re-signing Grady Jarrett, the Falcons poured most of their offseason resources into upgrading the OL, signing guards James Carpenter and Jamon Brown in free agency, and drafting G Chris Lindstrom and OT Kaleb McGary in the first round. How much better can we realistically expect this Falcons OL to be?
-
Last season, on 92 targets, Calvin Ridley caught 64 passes for 821 yards and 10 TD. His current ADP is 55.3, per FFC. Now with pass-first OC Dirk Koetter returning to Atlanta, do you see any room for statistical growth from Ridley this season even amidst a deep receiving corps? Keep in mind, Ridley was not 100% last season.
-
The other biggest reason the Falcons squandered an historically great season from Matt Ryan was injuries to key players on defense. Keanu Neal went down with a torn ACL early in the season and Deion Jones missed most of the season with a foot injury. If their defense is able to stay healthy and the offense continues to click, should we expect a return to the playoffs for the Falcons? How much does Dan Quinn calling the plays now help, if at all?
-
Cam Newton, coming off his second shoulder surgery in three years, told Peter King at the beginning of training camp that he is embracing a new play style. What kind of adjustments to Cam Newton’s game should we expect given his twice-repaired shoulder?
-
Which Panthers WR would you prefer to own in fantasy: D.J. Moore (64.1 ADP) or Curtis Samuel (79.6 ADP)?
-
This Panthers defensive front seven, even with Thomas Davis now gone, looks as scary as ever. You bring in Pro Bowl DT Gerald McCoy on a one-year deal to team up with KK Short inside. You also have a top-10 LB duo in Luke Kuechly and Shaq Thompson. AND…you draft the freakish athletic Brian Burns to replace Julius Peppers at DE. You had Burns as your sixth overall prospect in the 2019 NFL Draft. What kind of dimension does Burns add to this intriguing front and is he a dark-horse DROY candidate this season? Panthers also have some outstanding depth at edge?
-
No pick in the 2019 NFL Draft was panned by the media more than the Giants selection of Daniel Jones at six overall. And this preseason, Jones has looked like a man on a mission to prove all the doubters wrong as through three games, he is 25/30 (83.3% completion rate), 369 yards, 2 TD’s and 0 INT. Eli Manning will begin the year under center, but if the Giants offense struggles badly the first two weeks, should Jones be starting in Week 3 or sooner?
-
Outside Saquon Barkley, no player on this Giants offense has more fantasy appeal than Evan Engram. Per Fantasy Football Calculator, his ADP is currently around 58 overall, slightly behind O.J. Howard. Would you be comfortable taking Engram as your starting TE at that juncture, or would you wait a round or two to take Jared Cook (72.2) or Vance McDonald (77.9)?
-
On paper, this Giants pass rush is one of the most uncertain units in the league. They are counting on second-year player Lorenzo Carter (a 2018 third-round pick) to supply the pressure off the edge and rookie NT Dexter Lawrence, who moves exceptionally smooth for a 342-lb. man, to supply pressure from the interior. Do you think the Giants pass rush can be a pleasant surprise in 2019…or is it a tall order?
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The Redskins are in a very similar situation at QB as the Giants are. They selected a potential franchise QB in Dwayne Haskins at 15 overall, yet journeyman Case Keenum will be starting Week 1 against the Eagles. If Keenum fails to get anything going the first two weeks, should Haskins be starting in Week 3?
-
In the preseason dress rehearsal, Derrius Guice (74.3 ADP) showed he’s almost (or already) fully recovered from the torn ACL he suffered last year. However, future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson (110.4 ADP) showed he still has more than enough juice left this preseason. Which Redskins RB would you prefer to own in fantasy…or would you avoid this backfield altogether?
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This Redskins defensive front looks VERY promising. You have the ‘Bama boys on the DL in Jonathan Allen and Da’Ron Payne, both capable of stopping the run and getting after the QB. And coming off the edge, you have the underrated Pro Bowl vet Ryan Kerrigan and freakish athletic rookie Montez Sweat. But the back end leaves much to be desired as Reuben Foster will miss the entire season with a torn ACL and the secondary is a mess outside of Landon Collins. Can this Washington front four be elite more often than not this season in order to mask the deficiencies they have at LB and DB?
-
With Carson Wentz more than a full year removed from that multi-ligament knee injury he suffered in his MVP-like 2017 season, is it reasonable to expect him to play close to that 2017 level this season if health permits?
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The Eagles have a crowded backfield, but rookie Miles Sanders has been the star of training camp. His current ADP is 54.4 per FFC. Would you be comfortable taking Sanders at that spot as the third or fourth RB on your roster in a 10-team league?
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This offseason, the Eagles parted ways with Michael Bennett via trade and Chris Long retired. The two accounted for 15.5 of the Eagles 44 sacks last season and had 121 of the teams 337 total QB pressures, per PFF. How do you see the Eagles replacing not only that production, but that efficiency as well?
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This is like a “now or never” year for the Cowboys. Dak Prescott is on the final year of his rookie deal and the Cowboys have assembled one of the league’s most talented rosters. Jerry Jones is also 76 years old and Jason Garrett is also in the final year of his contract. Would you consider anything less than an image of the Cowboys hoisting that Lombardi Trophy at Hard Rock Stadium in February a failure? Who should the Cowboys pay first: Dak Prescott or Ezekiel Elliott?
Is Rob Gronkowski going to come back out of retirement? Does Sam Darnold have the supporting cast he needs for a breakout season? Is Brian Flores the right guy for the Dolphins? How good is this Bills defense? Our right-hand man Hal Bent joined us to answer these questions and a lot more about the 2019 AFC East!! Lots of great fantasy advice in here too!!!!
Good morning, afternoon, or evening wherever (or whenever) you are ladies and gentlemen! This is Sports Krunch with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow. Just three weeks from the moment of this recording, the centennial season of the National Football League will kick off. And in that spirit, we continue with the sixth round of our 2019 NFL division-by-division preview series with a look at the AFC North. And to help us analyze all things Bengals, Browns, Ravens, and Steelers it is a pleasure to welcome back Pete Smith back to the program. He currently is the editor for Browns Maven, a source all Browns fans should check out. How are you Pete, it’s great to have you back!
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The Bengals hired Zac Taylor mainly because he worked with Sean McVay. And when you look at this Bengals offense…the pieces just might be there to replicate what the Rams have done on offense the past two seasons. You have a legitimate bellcow RB in Joe Mixon who can play the Todd Gurley role. And you have a trio of WR’s in A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd and John Ross that (as a group) have the potential to be as good or better than the collective of Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. However, the issues the Bengals have on the offensive line may put a damper on the potential of their skill players this season. Despite their efforts in the offseason to revamp the OL, 2019 first-round pick Jonah Williams is likely out for the season with a shoulder injury and G Clint Boling retired. Without those two, just how bad is this Bengals OL? Is it like one of the five worst OL units in the league?
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Joe Mixon’s current ADP is around 15th overall according to Fantasy Football Calculator. The talent, volume and the potential are there to finish 2019 as a top-three fantasy RB, which makes it totally understandable to take him at that point in your draft, or even earlier. However, given the fact the floor for the Bengals this season is very low, they could find themselves in a lot of lopsided games in which the game script won’t favor the running game. Thus, there’s a good argument NOT to take Joe Mixon at his current ADP. Where would you be comfortable taking Mixon in your fantasy draft?
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Last season, the Bengals defense was just god-awful. They ended the year as the NFL’s lowest ranked total defense. But the Bengals apparently believe bad luck on the injury front was to blame last season, especially in terms of the pass rush where the underrated Carl Lawson suffered a torn ACL. With Lawson expected to be healthy and ready to go by Week 1 or shortly thereafter, how much does his presence improve that Bengals pass rush and the defense as a whole?
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This is by far THE best Browns roster on paper since the franchise was reinstated 20 years ago. Offensively, you have Baker Mayfield, who clearly looks like the face of the franchise for the next decade-plus. You have an incredible one-two punch at RB with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, and now you bring in arguably the most talented WR in football in Odell Beckham, Jr. to go along with a solid receiving corps. However, the OL, in its second season post-Joe Thomas, looks like a glaring weakness. The Browns also traded away their best OL Kevin Zeitler in order to land OBJ. If you were John Dorsey, would you be willing to part with your 2020 first-round pick in order to acquire disgruntled Redskins Pro Bowl OT Trent Williams?
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With Kareem Hunt suspended for the first eight games of the season, Nick Chubb is one of THE most attractive options for fantasy owners as far as RB’s go. Chubb’s current ADP is around 11 overall, per Fantasy Football Calculator. Would you grab him at that juncture, or would you pass and select somebody like Dalvin Cook or Kerryon Johnson instead?
Good morning, afternoon, or evening wherever (or whenever) you are ladies and gentlemen! This is Sports Krunch with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow. 2019 NFL training camps are in the books and the 100th season of the greatest sports league in the world begins just three weeks from this Thursday night!!! And in that spirit, we continue with the fifth round of our 2019 NFL division-by-division preview series with a look at the NFC West. And to help us analyze all things Cardinals, Niners, Seahawks, and Rams, it is a pleasure to welcome Matt Barr to the program for the very first time. Matt is the co-host of the “4th and Gold” podcast, a MUST-listen for all 49ers fans. How are you doing Matt, it’s great to have you with us!
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Kyler Murray may only be the second QB standing 5-10 or under in the Super Bowl era, but you can’t deny he has the potential to forever alter how the QB position is evaluated and scouted. As Kurt Warner pointed out during the draft, there are definitely similarities to Russell Wilson’s game that you get from the tape. What were your impressions of Kyler Murray during the pre-draft process, especially the tape? How much better do he and Kliff Kingsbury alone make the Cardinals offense, a unit that was historically bad last season?
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Who is the better Cardinals WR to own in fantasy: Christian Kirk (73.2 ADP) or Larry Fitzgerald (88.2 ADP)?
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Last season, the Cardinals had the fourth best defense against the pass, but were dead last against the run. They will open 2019 without Patrick Peterson, who will be serving a six-game suspension. While the addition of Jordan Hicks may improve their run D, can we be surprised if this defense actually plays worse this season (especially at the beginning) compared to 2018?
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The 49ers can save $22.4 million next season by cutting Jimmy Garoppolo. Aside from staying healthy, what kind of season does he need to ensure he remains in red and gold in 2020 and beyond?
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Is Dante Pettis worth it at his current ADP (68.2)? Who is the better 49ers RB to own in fantasy: Tevin Coleman (56.3 ADP) or Matt Breida (125.5 ADP)?
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When fully healthy, just how good can this 49ers defensive front seven be?
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Would it surprise you if D.K. Metcalf ends up being Russell Wilson’s #1 target in the passing game by season’s end or sooner?
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Last season, Russell Wilson threw 35 TD’s on only 427 passes, good for an astonishing 8.2% TD rate. That rate is 2.2% higher than his career average of 6.0%, thus you can expect regression in TD passes. Would you be willing to draft Russell Wilson at his current ADP (104.6), or would you rather wait longer and take Jameis Winston (112.4) or Ben Roethlisberger (130.3)?
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The Seahawks pass rush is very concerning. You trade away Frank Clark and you sign Ziggy Ansah, a clear downgrade, to a one-year deal. And worse, Jarran Reed, who had a breakout season last year with 10.5 sacks, is suspended the first six games of the season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Where is this pass rush going to come from minus Clark and Reed?
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Jared Goff is a completely different QB in a clean pocket (83.8 QBR, one of the best in the league) versus a muddy pocket (11.3 QBR, one of the worst in the league). This offseason, the Rams said goodbye to LG Rodger Saffold and C John Sullivan and will be counting on two second-year players (Joe Noteboom and Brian Allen, respectively) to replace them. How big of a concern is this OL turnover for the defending NFC champs? What is the biggest key for the Rams on offense this season: Protecting Goff, Todd Gurley’s knee, or Cooper Kupp returning to his old self?
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Last season, the Raiders offense was pretty much unwatchable even before they traded Amari Cooper. Now they have Antonio Brown, arguably THE best wide receiver of the decade, whom they acquired in a trade from the Steelers. They also signed Tyrell Williams, an EXTREMELY underrated vertical receiving threat and they also drafted Josh Jacobs, a multi-dimensional RB from Alabama. However, if these new weapons are to take the league by storm and the Raiders are going to surprise some people this season, Derek Carr must play like he did in 2015 and his MVP-caliber 2016 season as opposed to how he has performed the previous two seasons. This is likely Carr’s final chance to cement himself as the Raiders franchise QB as the team can save $16.5 million by releasing him after this season. Do you think Derek Carr is still capable of being that QB we saw in 2016, or are his best days behind him?
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FANTASY FOCUS: Antonio Brown may be getting a gold jacket one day, but from a fantasy perspective this season, he gets a steep downgrade at QB going from Roethlisberger to Carr. According to Fantasy Football Calculator, Brown’s current ADP is 2.09. Is Antonio Brown still a lock for a 1200+ receiving yard season with double digit TD’s as a Raider? Would you put WR’s with slightly lower ADP’s like Tyreek Hill and Mike Evans ahead of him on fantasy draft boards?
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After trading away Khalil Mack, the Raiders pass rush was almost lifeless as they registered a league low 13 sacks. That’s why they used their first of three first round picks on a pass rusher in Clelin Ferrell. However, the selection of Ferrell was thought of as a reach by many, especially since there were better options on the board in Josh Allen and Ed Oliver. I understand GM Mike Mayock wanted to make a statement about character in the pick, but with questionable pieces around Ferrell on that DL, how much does he alone improve that anemic pass rush?
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For the third time in four seasons, the Broncos have a new starting QB. With the Ravens eager to begin the Lamar Jackson era, the Broncos pounced and traded for his predecessor and Super Bowl XLVII MVP Joe Flacco. While many (including you) believe Flacco is an upgrade from Case Keenum, Flacco’s stats last year weren’t that much different from Keenum’s, and he has been at the bottom of the league in overall QBR for the past few seasons. And FWIW, Flacco and the Broncos offense have had a very sluggish start to training camp. Based on tape alone, why is Flacco an upgrade over Case Keenum?
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. NFL teams are already filing into training camp and today, the Denver Broncos just held the first training camp practice of the 2019 season. Football is officially back and in that spirit, we continue our 2019 division-by-division preview series with a dive into the AFC South. And joining us to analyze all things Colts, Jaguars, Texans, and Titans is our good friend Jake Arthur, who is currently a contributing writer for colts.com, the official website of the Indianapolis Colts.
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I am one of a minority of people who is higher on Nick Foles with the Jaguars than most. The reason why? New Jags OC John DeFilippo coached Foles during his magical run in Philly in 2017. Is it realistic to think that we’ll get more of the good Nick Foles than the bad one this season given DeFilippo’s presence?
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FANTASY FOCUS: Would you be happy taking Leonard Fournette at his current ADP (3.06 per Fantasy Football Calculator), or would you rather take Aaron Jones, Marlon Mack, or Derrick Henry at around the same juncture of your draft?
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How much more lethal does Josh Allen make this Jaguars D? Despite the addition of Allen, the Jaguars will be without three key people on defense this season. They had to cut Malik Jackson and Tashaun Gipson due to cap issues and LB Telvin Smith will be taking the 2019 season off for unknown personal reasons. Which of those three will be missed the most? Do you think the Jags D will still be a top-five unit in 2019?
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For the first few years of his career, Marcus Mariota looked like the real deal. The previous two years? Not so much. While not all Mariota’s struggles can be blamed on his health (he’s still yet to play a full season), you have to consider the possibility that his issues last season were in large part due to him being VERY VERY banged up (ulnar nerve issue in his throwing arm, neck stinger, cracked verterbra, broken rib, sprained AC shoulder joint, and a “significant” plantar fascia tear). Assuming he’s infinitely healthier this season, what kind of season does Mariota need to have to warrant a long-term contract extension?
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FANTASY FOCUS: Delanie Walker has always been Marcus Mariota’s best friend in the passing game, but he’s 35 years old and coming off a major injury (fractured ankle with ligament damage). If he isn’t the same, Mariota is going to need another threat over the middle to target regularly. And based on last season, Jonnu Smith is not capable of being that guy. Enter rookie WR A.J. Brown, who many in the draft community compared to JuJu Smith-Schuster. He’s likely to be that “BIG slot” WR and he runs terrific routes. Do you see Brown becoming that threat over the middle if Delanie Walker’s play declines and Jonnu Smith remains inept?
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. After a brief six-month hiatus, I am pleased to announce that we are back and ready to give you more exciting NFL content from all angles. Whether it be your favorite team, fantasy football, the NFL Draft or anything NFL-related, we will have you covered like never before. And how fitting is it that we return right now since the first of 32 NFL training camps begins in just a few days. In that spirit, we begin our 2019 NFL division-by-division preview series with a look at the NFC North. And to help us break down all things Bears, Vikings, Packers and Lions is our good friend Jordan Reid. Jordan is one of THE best football minds out there, especially when it comes to the NFL Draft. Over the past year, his career has taken off and he is becoming one of the go-to guys for NFL Draft information and analysis. He now writes for The Draft Network, my personal favorite NFL Draft site and hosts his own podcast “The Draft Board.” Jordan is also a wonderful friend of ours here at Sports Krunch, and it’s a pleasure to welcome him back to the program. How are you doing Jordan?
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The Bears incredible 2018 season ended in the worst possible way, with a (partially blocked) “double doink” missed FG against the Eagles in the Wild Card round. And since then, the Bears situation at kicker is arguably a million times more uncertain than it was on that day. Cody Parkey might have been jettisoned but no kicker on the current roster has been able to distinguish himself from the pack during OTA’s. Which kicker (whether on the current active roster or open market) can you see providing some stability for the Bears at that position this season?
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Jordan Howard was traded to the Eagles and to help replace him, the Bears traded up in the third round to select David Montgomery, a talented, multi-faceted back out of Iowa State. I personally was a HUGE fan of this pick. Do you think Montgomery is an upgrade over Howard in Matt Nagy’s offense? If you do, how so? (FANTASY FOCUS: Would you be surprised if Montgomery is the back getting most of the carries right off the bat?)
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The Bears lost two underrated pieces of their top-shelf 2018 defense in nickel corner Bryce Callahan and safety Adrian Amos. Which of those players will be the hardest to replace? How does Chuck Pagano’s system fit the skillsets of the Bears defenders better than Vic Fangio’s?
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The main thing that derailed the Vikings in 2018 was their porous OL play. To help fix that problem, the Vikings selected Garrett Bradbury, who was considered THE best center prospects in years, with their first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network calls him “The Grim Reacher” because of his otherworldly reach blocks. Can you see Bradbury making at least somewhat of a similar impact on the entire Vikings OL as Quenton Nelson did with the Colts last year?
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FANTASY FOCUS: With Gary Kubiak now in the Vikings building as essentially the Vikings co-OC, I am anticipating a lot more two-TE sets. The Vikings need a third pass catcher to emerge behind Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. And while the Vikings may have extended Kyle Rudolph, they selected Alabama TE Irv Smith with their second-round pick. Daniel Jeremiah compared him to Jordan Reed, who was Kirk Cousins’ absolute favorite target in Washington. Can you see Irv Smith becoming that third option in the passing game behind Thielen and Diggs by midseason or sooner?
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Although the Vikings were fourth in total defense last season, it didn’t feel quite as dominant as their performance during their magical 2017 season. What is the most important thing that needs to happen this season for the Vikings defense to play closer to that 2017 level?
One of the biggest potential steals of the 2019 NFL Draft was the Chargers selection of Delaware S Nasir Adderley in the second round (60th overall pick). I caught up with Nasir at the 2019 Reese's Senior Bowl and we discussed whether range or ball skills is the most important attribute needed to play safety in the NFL, his close friendship with his former college teammate and current Bears DT Bilal Nichols, the influence of Hall of Famer Ed Reed on the safety position and MORE!!!
Eagles beat writer Les Bowen (Philadelphia Inquirer) joined us to discuss a laundry list of potential cap casualties for the Eagles this offseason, Carson Wentz’s health, and the possibility of the Eagles trading Nick Foles, which is bigger than you may think
Our old friend Dave Birkett, who covers the Lions and the NFL for the Detroit Free Press joined us again. He discussed the puzzling hiring of new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, Matthew Stafford’s future, why the Lions are likely to let DE Ziggy Ansah walk, and the Lions plans in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Also, Dave is on the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors and we talk about next week’s vote for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2019 class
Buccaneers beat writer Greg Auman (The Athletic) joins us to discuss what Jameis Winston needs to do to earn a long-term deal from the Bucs, reports suggesting the release of Pro Bowl DT Gerald McCoy, and Tampa’s plans for the 2019 NFL Draft
Ryan O’Halloran - Broncos beat writer Ryan O’Halloran (Denver Post) joins us to discuss the Broncos 2019 NFL Draft plans (QB or bust in first round?), what Denver is getting with new head coach Vic Fangio, and why the team was smart to let Gary Kubiak go elsewhere and opt for a fresh face at Offensive Coordinator
Raiders beat writer Vic Tafur (The Athletic) joins us to discuss the Raiders plans in the 2019 NFL Draft, Derek Carr’s future, and how much of a role new GM Mike Mayock will play
Well, and then there were four. NFL Conference Championship Weekend is here with only the Rams, Saints, Patriots and Chiefs alive in the race to Super Bowl LIII. Do you think these were the four best teams in the NFL this year, Hal?
- Divisional Round Weekend Takeaways
-Chiefs DL over-powering Colts OL and Rams ground game gashing the Cowboys on the ground are things nobody expected…and that’s what makes football so great
-Hal: Saints had weakest rushing attack last weekend
- Truth or Exaggeration
-The Bears didn’t downgrade as much as some think at DC with their hire of Chuck Pagano
-The Broncos did themselves a favor by not keeping Gary Kubiak as their OC and going with a more fresh face and modern scheme in former 49ers QB coach Rick Scangarello
-Gary Kubiak is exactly who Kirk Cousins needs to take that next step for the Vikings
-Mike Mayock is an upgrade over Reggie McKenzie for the Raiders at GM
- Rams/Saints
-Should the Rams keep that same run-first approach this weekend given the season-ending injury to Sheldon Rankins?
-The Saints offense didn’t have to do much last week. I think they’ll have to do a lot more this week, do you?
-Most important player for each team on offense and defense in this game
-Game-deciding matchups
-Prediction
- Patriots/Chiefs
-Why can the Patriots have more success on the ground against the Chiefs than the Colts did last weekend? Why can this Patriots OL contain this Chiefs pass rush unlike the unit that went against the Broncos pass rush on the road in the 2015 AFCCG?
-Based on watching the film of their previous meeting this season, what concepts will the Patriots D use to try to contain and pressure Mahomes?
-Does the change in weather forecast alter your prediction somewhat?
-Most important player for each team on offense and defense in this game
-Game-deciding matchups
-Prediction
- Divisional Round Weekend Bold Predictions
-Me: Patriots will gash the Chiefs for over 250 rushing yards
-Hal:
- Challenge Flags
-Me: Chiefs…don’t be afraid to beat the Patriots at their own game by running the ball and playing keep-away from Tom Brady
-Hal: Rams…don’t abandon the run even if the Saints jump out ahead early
Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but tomorrow through Thursday, we will be back in Mobile, Alabama for the second straight year covering the 2019 Reese’s Senior Bowl. Stay tuned for daily updates and interviews throughout our stay down in Sweet Home Alabama.
In the mean time, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes please consider leaving us an iTunes review and donating to our Patreon at Patreon.com/SportsKrunch so we can improve our iTunes ranking and afford to produce even more shows with awesome guests like Hal.
For Hal Bent our producer Chris Brodhead, this is David Kromelow saying so long…and as usual, stay awesome.
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. Well wild card weekend wasn’t as really wild as I expected it to be with the exception of the Eagles/Bears game, but divisional round weekend has a better chance to live up to such a description. Do you believe so Hal Bent? What makes this arguably the most exciting weekend on the entire NFL calendar?
- Wild Card Weekend Takeaways
-Bears fans should be giving Treyvon Hester FAR more credit than Cody Parkey hell
-Hal: Went 0-4 on his picks last week
- Head Coaching Hire Grades
-Grading each team’s hire
- Browns (Kitchens): C/inc.
- Bucs (Arians): B
- Packers (LaFleur): B+
- Broncos (Fangio): B
- Cardinals (Kingsbury): A-
- Bengals (Taylor*): A [just for not hiring Hue Jackson]
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Jets (Gase): C-
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Colts/Chiefs
-The Chiefs have to expect the Colts to pound the ball religiously in this game. Do you think the Chiefs can win without stopping the run?
-Who is more likely to have a good game?: Chiefs DL and edge rushers versus Colts OL or Colts back seven versus Chiefs weapons
-Other game-deciding matchup
-Prediction
- Cowboys/Rams
-Is this the worst possible divisional round matchup the Rams could ask for?
-Should the Rams give CJ Anderson a healthy amount of touches even with Gurley back? Two-back sets with them to help compensate for Cooper Kupp’s absence since both backs are great receivers?
-Can the Rams win without stopping the run?
-Game-deciding matchups
-Prediction
- Chargers/Patriots
-How concerning is the potential disadvantage for the Patriots OL going against that Chargers front?
-Is there anybody in the league not named Derwin James capable of slowing down Gronk on a good day for Gronk?
-What advantages do the Chargers offense have against the Pats D and vice versa?
-Game-deciding matchup
-Prediction
- Eagles/Saints
-The Eagles incredible run to this point began when Timmy Jernigan returned to the lineup. Just how important is he?
-Wouldn’t you say the Eagles should be given a better chance to win given the Saints inconsistencies in the secondary?
-Is there a weakness for the Eagles DL to exploit against this rock solid Saints OL?
-Game-deciding matchups
-Prediction
- Divisional Round Weekend Bold Predictions
-Me: Nick Foles throws for 350 yards, 3 TD’s and 65%+ of his passes….and still loses
-Hal: Andrew Luck throws for 400 yards and 4 TD’s and completes 75% of his passes…and still loses
- Challenge Flags
-Me: Chargers….this may be your lest best chance to win a Super Bowl with Philip Rivers. PLAY LIKE IT!
-Hal: Eagles….pull out all of the stops and prove me wrong. PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION AND GO DOWN SWINGING!!!!
Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week to preview the Conference Championships…so stay tuned! I am also pleased to announce that Sports Krunch will be back on the ground in Mobile, Alabama for the second straight year covering the 2019 Reese’s Senior Bowl. Also, should things currently transpiring behind the scenes continue their course into these next few weeks, Sports Krunch will undergo a fascinating makeover…so stay tuned for a huge announcement if that happens.
In the mean time, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes please consider leaving us an iTunes review and donating to our Patreon at Patreon.com/SportsKrunch so we can improve our iTunes ranking and afford to produce even more shows with awesome guests like Hal.
For Hal Bent our producer Chris Brodhead, this is David Kromelow saying so long…and as usual, stay awe
Well the NFL playoffs are finally here with Wild Card Weekend about to commence and Hal Bent, I don’t think I’ve ever been excited for a Wild Card weekend like this one. Have you?
Week 17 Takeaways
-Kirk Cousins looking like a colossal waste of money
-Teddy Bridgewater doesn’t look like the future in New Orleans
Coaching Carousel
-Jets are pursuing Baylor head coach Matt Rhule. Given college football’s increasing influence on NFL offensive scheming, this might be the best possible hire for the Jets. What do you think?
-If the Jets hire Rhule, do you think Adam Gase should go to the Cardinals?
-It’s been rumored for several months that Mike McCarthy would become the new head coach of the Browns. Given his previous relationship with John Dorsey plus Baker Mayfield likely only going to get better, how good of a fit would that be?
-Best coaching fits for each opening: Browns, Dolphins, Broncos, Cardinals, Jets, Packers, Bengals, Buccaneers
Colts/Texans
-How will the lack of receiving weapons outside of DeAndre Hopkins hinder the Texans offense?
-DeAndre Hopkins announced on Thursday that he will be dedicating this game to Jazmine Barnes, a 7-year old girl killed in a drive-by shooting in the Houston area. Nuk will be donating this week’s game-check to the Barnes family in order to help pay for the funeral costs. If I’m the Colts, I would not discount the fact that this heartbreaking story that touched Hopkins so much has the potential to make him go absolutely gangbusters on Saturday. He’s playing for Jazmine’s memory and her family. Would you have that same mindset if you were the Colts secondary?
-How big is the mismatch between the Colts receiving options and the Texans secondary?
-Prediction
Seahawks/Cowboys
-Which battle will be most decisive in this game? The battle between QB’s, defenses, or ground games?
-Game-deciding matchups
-Prediction
Chargers/Ravens
-Which is bigger: The Chargers advantage of playing the Ravens for a second time in three weeks or the disadvantage Chargers having to play a 1 PM ET game on the east coast?
-What is the main thing the Chargers have to do on both sides of the ball better than their previous rendezvous with the Ravens in order to win?
-Game-deciding matchup
-Prediction
Eagles/Bears
-REGARDLESS of the outcome of this game, do you think the Bears were dumb to not bench their starters early in the game against the Vikings?
-Who is more important for a Bears win on Sunday: Mitchell Trubisky or Jordan Howard?
-Outside of Nick Foles, who has been the key to the Eagles late-season turnaround?
-Does this seem to be a defensive battle to you given the fact both offenses run pretty similar systems?
-Prediction
Wild Card Weekend Bold Predictions
-Me: Darius Leonard has 3.5 sacks, 1 extra TFL and a FF to set up the game-winning field goal…clinching himself DROY honors
-Hal: Mitchell Trubisky throws 4 TD’s and for over 375 yards
Challenge Flags
-Me: Bears...play with the “if you wanna BE the champs…you have to BEAT the champs” mindset. Prove Louis Riddick (and Hal) right and me wrong
-Hal: Andrew Luck, if you have to throw 50 times to win this game, DO IT!
Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week to preview Divisional Round Weekend…so stay tuned! Meanwhile, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes please consider leaving us an iTunes review and donating to our Patreon at Patreon.com/SportsKrunch so we can improve our iTunes ranking and afford to produce even more shows with awesome guests like Hal.
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. Well, the 2018 NFL regular season comes to an end this weekend with three playoff teams and 11 seeds still yet to be determined. But as we’ve been saying for weeks, just as it appears the ride is ending, it’s really just beginning. Isn’t it Hal Bent?
- Week 16 Takeaways
-Jets have opened a GOLDEN window of opportunity with Sam Darnold…and they CANNOT afford to squander it. Firing Mike Maccagnan must be SQUARELY on the table
-Nick Foles blew Hal’s bold prediction out of the water
-Chargers laid an egg at the worst possible time. Can they bounce back?
- Truth/Exaggeration
-Regardless of what happens this Sunday, John Harbaugh has earned another contract extension as head coach of the Ravens
-Injuries and/or lack of depth in the defensive back seven will lead to one-an-done playoff performances for the Chiefs and Texans
-The Ravens and Colts are the two main teams NOBODY will want to face in the playoffs
-If there were an award for unsung hero of the year, it would be given to Saints DT Sheldon Rankins this season
-Aaron Donald will break Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record this weekend
-Even though the Bears ended up winning last week, the tape their defense put up against the 49ers proves why Eddie Jackson is arguably the third most important person on their defense behind only Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks
- Colts/Titans
-Whose absence will hurt their team more: Ryan Kelly or Jurrell Casey?
-How much of a downgrade is Blaine Gabbert from Marcus Mariota? Is the Titans O a better unit than the Colts D with Mariota? Without him?
-This game has a feel to it that whoever runs the ball better will win. Doesn’t it?
-Game-deciding matchups
-Prediction
- Rapid Fire Predictions
-Dolphins/Bills
-Lions/Packers
-Jaguars/Texans
-Jets/Patriots
-Panthers/Saints
-Cowboys/Giants
-Falcons/Buccaneers
-Browns/Ravens
-Raiders/Chiefs
-Bears/Vikings
-Bengals/Steelers
-Eagles/Redskins
-Chargers/Broncos
-49ers/Rams
-Cardinals/Seahawks
- If you had to predict today, who would face off in Super Bowl LIII, and who would win?
-Me: Patriots and Saints with the Saints winning 30-27
-Hal: Saints and Chiefs with the Saints winning 31-13
- Week 17 Bold Predictions
-Me: Teddy Bridgewater punches his ticket to a mega-deal in free agency by going 20/25 for 275 yards and 3 TD’s
-Hal: Ravens enter fourth quarter with a 13-3 lead, and Mayfield throws three 4th quarter TD’s to pull off the upset
- Challenge Flags
-Me: Kirk Cousins…this is your biggest chance to change the narrative on your career. Prove the doubters wrong!!
-Hal: Bengals, Jets, Broncos, Buccaneers, Cardinals, Lions…do NOT be afraid to start over
Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week to preview Wild Card Weekend and break down the looming NFL coaching carousel…so stay tuned! Meanwhile, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes please consider leaving us an iTunes review and donating to our Patreon at Patreon.com/SportsKrunch so we can improve our iTunes ranking and afford to produce even more shows with awesome guests like Hal.
For Hal Bent our producer Chris Brodhead, this is David Kromelow saying so long…and see you next year! Happy New Year everybody!!!!
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. It’s hard to believe, but the 2018 NFL regular season is already down to its final two weeks. And usually at this point in the year, a single team or a tiny group of teams emerge as clear front-runners to win the Super Bowl. But this year, I don’t see such a front-runner right now.
- Week 15 Takeaways
-Bears might have broke the Rams, Cowboys might have broke the Saints
-Even though they might win one more Super Bowl with Tom Brady, the end of the Patriots amazing run seems closer than it’s ever been
- Truth/Exaggeration
-The Patriots won’t make it far in the playoffs if Rob Gronkowski is indeed declining
-The Cardinals should fire HC Steve Wilks AND GM Steve Keim in order to build the roster around Josh Rosen going forward
-Vance Joseph’s gutless decision on fourth-and-one has eliminated any remaining chances he has at keeping his job as head coach of the Broncos
-If the Jets end up with the third overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, they should highly consider trading down given the holes on their roster and the fact they do not have a second-round pick this year
-Even though he probably won’t get the honor, Khalil Mack deserves robust consideration to be 2018’s Defensive Player of the Year
-The NFL must get rid of the Pro Bowl altogether in the next CBA
-The Vikings change at OC from John DeFilippo to Kevin Stefanski will make them the biggest sleeping giant in the playoffs should they get in
- Make The Case
-MVP: Drew Brees or Patrick Mahomes?
-Coach of the Year: Anthony Lynn or Matt Nagy?
-Comeback Player of the Year: Andrew Luck or JJ Watt?
-Most Disappointing Team: Jaguars or Eagles?
-Executive of the Year: Ryan Pace or Chris Ballard?
- Steelers/Saints
-Do you think Father Time is playing a role in Drew Brees’ performance these past three games?
-What does Jaylen Samuels bring to the Steelers offense that Le’Veon Bell and James Connor do not?
-Saints D has been cooking since Week 10. They are first in PPG allowed, third in YPG allowed, first in sacks per game, and tied for third in turnovers forced per game. That is a night and day difference compared to the first nine weeks of the season. What has been the biggest factor in this impressive turnaround?
-Game-deciding matchups
-Prediction
- Chiefs/Seahawks
-The Seahawks defense was just torched through the air by the 49ers last week. They gave up four pass plays of 20 or more yards. How ominous of a sign is that with Pat Mahomes and the Chiefs coming to town??
-Most important defensive player for the Seahawks not named Bobby Wagner in this game
-Who did the Chiefs offense miss more last week: Sammy Watkins or Spencer Ware?
-Prediction
- Rapid Fire Predictions
-Redskins/Titans
-Ravens/Chargers
-Giants/Colts
-Jaguars/Dolphins
-Falcons/Panthers
-Bengals/Browns
-Buccaneers/Cowboys
-Vikings/Lions
-Bills/Patriots
-Packers/Jets
-Texans/Eagles
-Rams/Cardinals
-Bears/49ers
-Broncos/Raiders
- Week 15 Bold Predictions
-Me: Darius Leonard and Andrew Luck go HAM on Sunday. Luck throws for 4 TD’s and Darius Leonard registers 2 sacks, 4 TFL’s, and a forced fumble
-Hal: Foles throws for 30/40 370 yards and 3 TD
- Challenge Flags
-Me: Chargers…play your two best games of the season to close out 2018
-Hal: Chargers…home field advantage is there for the taking. Take it!
Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week to preview Week 17…so stay tuned! Meanwhile, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes pleas
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. The NFL playoffs might not have officially began yet (we still have three weeks left in the regular season), but it sure felt like they have after one of THE most dramatic Sundays of NFL football I can ever remember transpired just this past week…didn’t it Hal Bent?
- Week 14 Takeaways
-Defense still matters -Baker Mayfield is on fire and the future couldn’t be brighter in Cleveland
- Truth/Exaggeration
-Browns interim OC Freddie Kitchens should be a serious head-coaching candidate for the Browns and other teams with an HC vacancy -If the Steelers miss the playoffs, the clock has to start ticking on Mike Tomlin -Vic Fangio has all but earned Assistant Coach of the Year honors -Pete Carroll has made just as strong a case for Coach of the Year as anybody -The Jaguars should seriously consider trading Jalen Ramsey in the offseason -The Patriots are more likely than not going to miss out on the AFC’s #1 seed
- Chargers/Chiefs
-Whose absence (or potential absence) will hurt their respective team more: Melvin Gordon or Spencer Ware? -How pivotal can Eric Berry’s return be to a Chiefs victory? -Is this the best season of Philip Rivers’ career? -Game-deciding matchup -Prediction
- Cowboys/Colts
-If there is a potential weakness in the Cowboys defense, what is it and how do Frank Reich and the Colts exploit it? -Who is more deserving of DROY honors: Vander Esch or Leonard? -Who is more important for the Colts to slow down: Amari Cooper or Ezekiel Elliott? -Game-deciding matchup -Prediction
- Patriots/Steelers
-What makes the Patriots more vulnerable this season compared to the last two seasons? -Does it seem that Juju Smith-Schuster is becoming equally as important of a weapon for the Steelers as Antonio Brown is? -How deflated are the Steelers chances of winning this game if James Connor doesn’t play? -Game-deciding matchups -Prediction
- Rapid Fire Predictions
-Texans/Jets -Browns/Broncos -Packers/Bears -Lions/Bills -Buccaneers/Ravens -Cardinals/Falcons -Raiders/Bengals -Titans/Giants -Dolphins/Vikings -Redskins/Jaguars -Seahawks/49ers -Eagles/Rams -Saints/Panthers
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Week 15 Bold Predictions -Me: Kirk Cousins throws for 400+ yards and 3 TD’s -Hal: Saquon Barkley runs for 250 yards and 4 TD’s, Derek Carr throws for 400 yards passing
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Challenge Flags -Me: Saints…don’t get off to another slow start -Hal: Matt Patricia and Lions…FINISH STRONG and get to 8-8
Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week to preview Week 16…so stay tuned! Meanwhile, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes please consider leaving us an iTunes review and donating to our Patreon at Patreon.com/SportsKrunch so we can improve our iTunes ranking and afford to produce even more shows with awesome guests like Hal.
For Hal Bent our producer Chris Brodhead, this is David Kromelow saying so long, and as usual, stay awesome!
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. Hope all of you who are celebrating have had a Happy Hanukkah. Before we begin, I want to profoundly apologize for us being MIA last week. Thanksgiving hangover. Well, the 2018 NFL season is down to its final quarter…and it’s around this time of year we expect the playoff picture to become more clear…but because of what transpired last week, it’s still pretty murky as it currently stands, isn’t it Hal Bent?
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
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Week 12/13 Takeaways -Aaron Donald MUST be HIGHLY considered for MVP -Watch out for the Seahawks
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Truth/Exaggeration -If the Packers lose one of their next two games, Aaron Rodgers must be put on ice for the rest of the season -The Kareem Hunt saga will not only cost the Chiefs the AFC’s #1 seed, but the AFC West title as well -The Chargers and Texans have the AFC’s most talented rosters -Regardless of what happens down the stretch, the Broncos should bring back Vance Joseph for another season as they continue their gradual roster overhaul -We are witnessing the beginning of the end of the Steelers dominance in the Roethlisberger era
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Who is the favorite to win the NFC North? BEARS VIKINGS Week 14: Rams Week 14: at Seahawks Week 15: Packers Week 15: Dolphins Week 16: at 49ers Week 16: at Lions Week 17: at Vikings Week 17: Bears
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Who is the favorite to win the AFC North? RAVENS STEELERS Week 14: at Chiefs Week 14: at Raiders Week 15: Buccaneers Week 15: Patriots Week 16: at Chargers Week 16: at Saints Week 17: Browns Week 17: Bengals
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Who is the favorite for the AFC’s #6 seed? -Ravens/Steelers loser -Colts -Broncos -Titans -Dolphins
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Who are the favorites for the NFC’s Wild Card seeds? -Bears/Vikings loser -Seahawks -Eagles
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Now it’s time for our Top Choice Athletics Trivia Question of the Week. The winner of this weekly contest will be the recipient of some of the best sporting equipment from Top Choice Athletics!! Here it is: Who currently holds the record for most rushing yards in a single game?
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Rapid Fire Predictions -Ravens/Chiefs -Giants/Redskins -Saints/Buccaneers -Patriots/Dolphins -Colts/Texans -Falcons/Packers -Panthers/Browns -Broncos/49ers -Bengals/Chargers -Lions/Cardinals -Steelers/Raiders -Eagles/Cowboys -Rams/Bears -Vikings/Seahawks
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Week 14 Bold Predictions -Me: Cam Newton throws six interceptions -Hal: Raiders beat Steelers
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Challenge Flags -Me: Chargers…don’t get caught napping -Hal: Colts…put that loss to Jacksonville in the rearview mirror and FIND THAT RUN GAME
Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week to preview Week 15…so stay tuned! Meanwhile, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes please consider leaving us an iTunes review and donating to our Patreon at Patreon.com/SportsKrunch so we can improve our iTunes ranking and afford to produce even more shows with awesome guests like Hal.
For Hal Bent our producer Chris Brodhead, this is David Kromelow saying so long, and as usual, stay awesome!
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. Well, Thanksgiving has arrived and NEVER have I been more thankful for this great game of football, ESPECIALLY after a game like the one we saw last night between the Chiefs and the Rams. Hal Bent, was that the best regular season game you’ve ever watched?
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
Week 11 Takeaways -Short-term and long-term, BEWARE THE COLTS!
-Akiem Hicks may be the most underrated player in the NFL
Truth/Exaggeration -Leighton Vander Esch is a serious contender for DROY
-Alex Smith’s injury makes the Cowboys NFC East favorites down the stretch
-The Chargers collapse against the Broncos is a sign of worse things to come for them down the stretch
-The Bears should start Chase Daniel on Thursday against the Lions if Mitchell Trubisky’s shoulder is not 100%
Who is the favorite for the NFC’s #1 seed? RAMS SAINTS Week 12: BYE Week 12: Falcons Week 13: at Lions Week 13: at Cowboys Week 14: at Bears Week 14: at Buccaneers Week 15: Eagles Week 15: at Panthers Week 16: at Cardinals Week 16: Steelers Week 17: 49ers Week 17: Panthers
Who is the favorite for the AFC’s #1 seed? CHIEFS PATRIOTS STEELERS Week 12: BYE Week 12: at Jets Week 12: at Broncos Week 13: at Raiders Week 13: Vikings Week 13: Chargers Week 14: Ravens Week 14: at Dolphins Week 14: at Raiders Week 15: Chargers Week 15: at Steelers Week 15: Patriots Week 16: at Seahawks Week 16: Bills Week 16: at Saints Week 17: Raiders Week 17: Jets Week 17: Bengals
Now it’s time for our Top Choice Athletics Trivia Question of the Week. The winner of this weekly contest will be the recipient of some of the best sporting equipment from Top Choice Athletics!! Here it is: Which Cowboys QB lead a stunning come-from-behind victory against the Redskins in relief of Roger Staubach on Thanksgiving Day 1974?
Rapid Fire Predictions -Bears/Lions
-Redskins/Cowboys
-Falcons/Saints
-Raiders/Ravens
-Jaguars/Bills
-Seahawks/Panthers
-Browns/Bengals
-Patriots/Jets
-Giants/Eagles
-49ers/Buccaneers
-Cardinals/Chargers
-Dolphins/Colts
-Steelers/Broncos
-Packers/Vikings
-Titans/Texans
Week 11 Bold Predictions -Me: Leighton Vander Esch picks off two passes and tallies three TFL’s on Thursday
-Hal: Broncos will sack Ben Roethlisberger seven times
Challenge Flags -Me: Chargers…make me believe again
-Hal: Texans…you have a shot at the #1 seed…you can go 13-3. DO IT!!
Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week to preview Week 13…so stay tuned! Meanwhile, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes please consider leaving us an iTunes review and donating to our Patreon at Patreon.com/SportsKrunch so we can improve our iTunes ranking and afford to produce even more shows with awesome guests like Hal.
For Hal Bent our producer Chris Brodhead, this is David Kromelow saying so long, and to you and yours, a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. The 2018 NFL season is down to its final seven weeks, and this week contains several games that can prove to be very decisive the rest of the way. Two of them are in prime time…including a matchup NFL fans have had circled on their calendar for weeks. And Hal, even though seven weeks is an eternity, you can pretty much say it’s already crunch time as we head into the top of the 2018 season’s stretch, can’t you?
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
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Week 10 Takeaways -Cowboys might have the best LB duo in the league going forward with Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch -Barring a catastrophe, the road to Super Bowl LIII in the NFC is very likely going through New Orleans
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Truth/Exaggeration -The Eagles are more likely to get a top-10 draft pick than to make the playoffs -Mike McCarthy will more likely than not get fired as head coach of the Packers after the 2018 season, whether they make the playoffs or not -George Kittle has made the case that he’s one of the five best tight ends in the NFL right now -If Justin Herbert declares for the 2019 NFL Draft, and should the Raiders have the first overall pick…the Raiders MUST take Herbert
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Vikings/Bears -What kind of game are we most likely to see: Shootout, low-scoring defensive battle, or something in between? -What is the bigger mismatch: Vikings front four versus Bears OL or Bears front versus Vikings OL? -While Mitchell Trubisky has shown very good improvement this season, inconsistency is still a concern. While he has gone gangbusters against some of the NFL’s worst defenses (Tampa, Miami, last week vs. Detroit), he has struggled against some of the league’s better defenses (Buffalo). Can the Bears win this game if Trubisky finds somewhat of a middle ground? -What unit of the Vikings defense needs the most improvement in this game and for the rest of the season? How pivotal can Andrew Sendejo’s absence be? -Prediction
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Chiefs/Rams -Since this game was moved to LA from Mexico City, how much of an additional advantage does this give the Rams? -With Cooper Kupp now out for the season, which Rams receiving option not named Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks or Robert Woods needs to step up the most? -Aaron Donald is arguably the best defensive player in football right now, but the Chiefs have somebody that should be a household name after this game…and that is Chris Jones. Jones has seven sacks this year. And the last game the Rams were without Cooper Kupp (against Green Bay)…Kenny Clark absolutely FEASTED against the interior of the Rams OL. Do you expect Chris Jones to have as good a game (or even better) than Aaron Donald on Monday night? -Who has the better defense: Chiefs or Rams? -Game-deciding matchups -Prediction
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Now it’s time for our Top Choice Athletics Trivia Question of the Week. The winner of this weekly contest will be the recipient of some of the best sporting equipment from Top Choice Athletics!! Here it is: How many yards was Vikings DE Jim Marshall’s infamous wrong way run?
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Rapid Fire Predictions -Cowboys/Falcons -Bengals/Ravens -Panthers/Lions -Titans/Colts -Buccaneers/Giants -Texans/Redskins -Steelers/Jaguars -Raiders/Cardinals -Broncos/Chargers -Eagles/Saints
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Week 11 Bold Predictions -Me: Eagles allow 200+ yards on the ground to the Saints -Hal: Five games go to OT
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Challenge Flags -Me: Bears OL and Vikings OL…I dare ONE of you guys to dominate on Sunday night -Hal: Bengals owner Mike Brown…it’s time to clean house!!!!
Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back right before Thanksgiving with a look at Week 12…so stay tuned! Meanwhile, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes please consider leaving us an iTunes review and donating to our Patreon at Patreon.com/SportsKrunch
We are already halfway through the 2018 NFL season, and just like many 2018 election races, countless games have gone down to the wire and many (if not most) division titles are still up for grabs. However, the last few weeks of games haven’t had quite as much drama as the first seven or so…and this week’s slate of games looks pretty bland.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
Week 9 Takeaways -The Pittsburgh Steelers are the team nobody wants to face right now -Redskins are in trouble; Falcons still very much alive
Mid-Season Awards AWARD DKROM HAL MVP Patrick Mahomes Patrick Mahomes Offensive POY Adam Thielen Todd Gurley Defensive POY Aaron Donald Aaron Donald Offensive ROY Saquon Barkley Saquon Barkley Defensive ROY Bradley Chubb Darius Leonard Comeback POY J.J. Watt/Andrew Luck J.J. Watt Coach of the Year Anthony Lynn Andy Reid
Truth/Exaggeration -The Chargers are a more balanced football team than the Chiefs and have even more of a legitimate chance at winning the AFC West than they did a few weeks ago -The Rams made a catastrophic mistake by trading for Marcus Peters -The Bears are a serious threat to win the NFC North -Jason Garrett will inevitably get fired as Cowboys head coach at the end of the season
Saints/Bengals -There are pretty much only two ways to beat the Saints right now. Pressure Drew Brees up the middle constantly…and keep him off the field. That arguably makes Geno Atkins and Joe Mixon the two biggest keys to an upset win for the Bengals. Which of the two do you think is more important in Sunday’s game? -Before the Saints offense re-awakened in the fourth quarter, the Rams did a great job of putting the clamps on them in the third quarter. What should the Bengals take from that film schematically? -Game-deciding matchup -Prediction
Now it’s time for our Top Choice Athletics Trivia Question of the Week. The winner of this weekly contest will be the recipient of some of the best sporting equipment from Top Choice Athletic!! Here it is: Who is Patrick Mahomes’ godfather, what sport did he play, what position did he play, and what teams did he play for?
Rapid Fire Predictions -Lions/Bears -Falcons/Browns -Jaguars/Colts -Cardinals/Chiefs -Bills/Jets -Redskins/Buccaneers -Patriots/Titans -Chargers/Raiders -Dolphins/Packers -Seahawks/Rams -Cowboys/Eagles -Giants/49ers
Week 10 Bold Predictions -Me: Golden Tate will catch two TD’s and go over 100 receiving yards in his debut as an Eagle -Hal: Matt Ryan throws six TD’s this week against Cleveland
Challenge Flags -Me: Bears…don’t get caught napping against a wounded Lions team. A wounded animal is the most dangerous -Hal: John Harbaugh...play Lamar Jackson!!!!!
Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week for Week 11…so stay tuned! Meanwhile, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes please consider leaving us an iTunes review and donating to our Patreon at Patreon.com/SportsKrunch so we can improve our iTunes ranking and afford to produce even more shows with awesome guests like Hal.
For Hal Bent our producer Chris Brodhead, this is David Kromelow saying so long, and as usual, stay awesome!!!
NFL Week 9 is upon us, and that means we will officially reach the halfway point of the 2018 season at some point on Sunday. Week 8 didn’t bring us quite as many exciting finishes as we’ve been used to seeing on a weekly basis this year, and Thursday night’s Raiders/Niners game was a classic stinker. But with Rams/Saints and the battle for NFC supremacy plus Rodgers vs. Brady Part II on tap for Sunday, I think Week 9 should provide us with far more heart-palpitations than Week 8 did.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
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Week 8 Takeaways -The Jameis Winston experiment in Tampa must end…and end NOW -Why did it take THIS long for the Browns to fire Hue Jackson?
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Trading Deadline Recap -Which of the following three contenders made the best deal: Texans, Eagles or Rams? Who made the worst deal?
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Rams/Saints -The Packers defense last week gave the perfect blueprint for slowing down the Rams offense, and you can expect the Saints to follow suit. However, Cooper Kupp is expected to return for the Rams this week. How much easier does Cooper Kupp make it for the Rams to execute against such a defensive game plan? -Meanwhile, the Saints will be without an underrated piece on defense. Rookie DE Marcus Davenport appeared to be hitting his stride, but he is out at least a month with a toe injury. How limited will the Saints be from a scheming perspective on defense without his services this Sunday? -Game-deciding matchups (Donald/Suh vs. Saints OL) -Prediction
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Packers/Patriots -How difficult a test will Kenny Clark and Mike Daniels be for the Patriots interior OL? -Do you think Tom Brady will be tempted to avoid throwing to Jaire Alexander as much as humanly possible? -Whose absence affects their team the most in this game: Geronimo Allison or Sony Michel? -Game-deciding matchups -Prediction
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We have a new feature here on Sports Krunch…our Top Choice Athletics Trivia Question of the Week. The winner of this weekly contest will be the recipient of some of the best sporting equipment from Top Choice Athletic!! This week’s trivia question is simply to name the birthplace (city and country) of HOF kicker Morten Andersen. Winner will be announced on next week’s show!!! Post your answer in the comments section of the post pinned to the Sports Krunch Facebook page. This first one to answer correctly wins!
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Rapid Fire Predictions -Chiefs/Browns -Steelers/Ravens -Bears/Bills -Lions/Vikings -Jets/Dolphins -Buccaneers/Panthers -Falcons/Redskins -Texans/Broncos -Chargers/Seahawks -Cowboys/Titans
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Week 9 Bold Predictions -Me: The Texans and Broncos defenses combine for more than 12 sacks -Hal:
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Challenge Flags -Me: Rams…if you want to be the man….you have to beat the man. Play the game of your lives on Sunday!!! -Hal:
Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week for Week 10…so stay tuned! Meanwhile, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes please consider leaving us an iTunes review and donating to our Patreon at Patreon.com/SportsKrunch so we can improve our iTunes ranking and afford to produce even more shows with awesome guests like Hal.
For Hal Bent our producer Chris Brodhead, this is David Kromelow saying so long, and as usual, stay awesome!!!
It is hard to believe we are almost halfway through the 2018 NFL season. It’s been a wild ride so far, so wild it seems like a year has gone by. But if you think what we just went through these past seven weeks was wild….you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
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Week 7 Takeaways -After getting EMBARRASSED in the “TNF Stinker Bowl”…the clock has to start ticking on Steve Wilks in Arizona -Jaguars will forever regret drafting Leonard Fournette over Mahomes and Watson…and extending Blake Bortles instead of signing Teddy Bridgewater
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Trade Tsunami -At this time (on paper), how historically horrendous does the Cowboys trade for Amari Cooper look? How many All Pro (or Pro Bowl) campaigns does Cooper need to have with the Cowboys in order to meet the value of this trade? -If you were a contender like the Chiefs who need all the defensive help they can get, would you be willing to trade a first-round pick for Patrick Peterson? -What trade value, if any, does Le’Veon Bell have? -If you’re the Broncos, do you trade Demaryius Thomas for anything you can get (even a seventh-round pick) so you can clear 2019 cap space and get Courtland Sutton more snaps?
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Packers/Rams -Does anything about this Packers defense, who had trouble with C.J. Beathard and the 49ers, make you confident that they can contain this Rams offense? -Given the Rams D’s vulnerabilities against TE, would you try to target Jimmy Graham 8-10 times (or more) if you’re the Packers? -With Cooper Kupp doubtful to play again, how much can that potentially limit the Rams offense? -Game-deciding matchups -Prediction
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Saints/Vikings -With the Vikings likely without their shutdown corner Xavier Rhodes, LB Anthony Barr and Everson Griffen (even though he’s back) and the Saints having problems with Joe Flacco last week…do you see a shootout that exceeds the over of 52.5 points? -Marshon Lattimore vs. Adam Thielen….who has the edge and why? -Other game-deciding matchups -Prediction
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SET MY LINEUP Matt Fleischer (PPR) -QB: Goff, Stafford -RB: Gurley, AP, Hines, Malcolm Brown -WR: Shepard, Edelman, Demaryius, Kupp, Callaway -TE: Kelce -Flex:
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Rapid Fire Predictions -Dolphins/Texans -Eagles/Jaguars -Redskins/Giants -Seahawks/Lions -Jets/Bears -Ravens/Panthers -Buccaneers/Bengals -Browns/Steelers -Broncos/Chiefs -Colts/Raiders -49ers/Cardinals -Patriots/Bills
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Week 8 Bold Predictions -Me: The Browns and Steelers will go to OT again…and it will end on a last-second FG by Boswell -Hal: Rams will be 7-4 headed into their bye week
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Challenge Flags -Me: Eagles…play with urgency for 60 minutes!!!! -Hal: Jay Gruden….keep your eye on the prize. Jon…trade ANYONE with value
Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week for Week 9…so stay tuned! Meanwhile, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes please consider leaving us an iTunes review and donating to our Patreon at Patreon.com/SportsKrunch so we can improve our iTunes ranking and afford to produce even more shows with awesome guests like Hal.
For Hal Bent our producer Chris Brodhead, this is David Kromelow saying so long, and as usual, stay awesome!!!
Every single week of this 2018 NFL season has consisted of more heart-palpitating finishes to start a season than I can remember. We have had games go to OT every single week, and even though this Week 7 slate of games doesn’t look quite as delicious as those of previous weeks, we should expect even more near-heart attacks this week and for the rest of the season.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
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Week 6 Takeaways -Buffalo Bills….talk about an historical difference between offense/defense. Per Football Outsiders, the Bills defense is third best in total DVOA, but their offense is the second worst ever through six games in total DVOA behind only the 2004 Miami Dolphins -All the Patrick Mahomes doubters/haters can zip it
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Truth/Exaggeration -The era of dominant NFL defenses is over -Despite the Bears heartbreaking loss last week, their fans should be very optimistic about Mitchell Trubisky going forward -The Los Angeles Chargers are a serious threat to win the AFC West…and the AFC -The Minnesota Vikings are the current favorites to win the NFC North
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Saints/Ravens -The Ravens have had Drew Brees number during his career as a Saint (Brees is 0-3 against Baltimore in that capacity). The Saints enter this game third in total offense, and the Ravens number one in total defense. How well does this Ravens D match up with the Saints? How is this Saints offense better equipped to attack such a physical defense compared to years past? -This game can turn out a lot of different ways. Do you expect a high-scoring affair, a low-scoring defensive struggle, or something in between? -Game-deciding matchup? -Prediction
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Bengals/Chiefs -Who should be the key focal point of the Bengals offense in this game: Andy Dalton and the passing game, or Joe Mixon and the running game? -Geno Atkins has been absolutely outstanding this season and the Chiefs interior OL is decimated by injury headed into this game. How possible or likely is it that this mismatch can be the big difference between a win and loss for the Chiefs? -Game-deciding matchup -Prediction
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SET MY LINEUP Raj Chandra (non-PPR) -QB: Mahomes, Bortles -RB: Elliott, Hunt, Freeman, Crowell, Ito Smith -WR: Gordon, Gabriel, Marvin Jones, Davante Adams (on BYE) -TE: Howard, Reed -Flex:
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Rapid Fire Predictions -Broncos/Cardinals -Titans/Chargers -Patriots/Bears -Lions/Dolphins -Vikings/Jets -Bills/Colts -Texans/Jaguars -Browns/Buccaneers -Panthers/Eagles -Cowboys/Redskins -Rams/49ers -Giants/Falcons
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Week 7 Bold Predictions -Me: The Broncos will yield another 200-yard rusher as David Johnson sets the single-game rushing yardage record tomorrow night!!! -Hal: Brees throws for less than 150 yards
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Challenge Flags -Me: Matt Nagy…keep the ship steady -Hal: Mike Vrabel…toughen up the Titans and make it a game against the Chargers
Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week for Week 8…so stay tuned! Meanwhile, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes please consider leaving us an iTunes review and donating to our Patreon at Patreon.com/SportsKrunch so we can improve our iTunes ranking and afford to produce even more shows with awesome guests like Hal.
For Hal Bent our producer Chris Brodhead, this is David Kromelow saying so long, and as usual, stay awesome!!!
Week 5 in the NFL brought us some more dramatic action. With two more OT finishes in Cleveland and Houston, an amazing last-second finish in Carolina, plus another gutsy play call in crunch time by Sean McVay, the NFL delivered once again in Week 5…as it has done every week this season. And now Week 6 arguably brings THE most exciting matchup of the season to date as a rising star QB battles the greatest QB of all time in prime time. And what better guest is there to preview that game plus the rest of the NFL’s Week 6 slate than my buddy and right-hand man Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com!!
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
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Week 5 Takeaways -Jason Garrett = GUTLESS -Drew Brees and Tom Brady make history in tremendous fashion
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Truth/Exaggeration -The NFC East is the worst division in the NFL right now -The Saints defense has turned a corner and will play more like the unit they were last season the rest of the way -Mike Tomlin and Mike McCarthy should get fired if their respective teams don’t make the playoffs -If Fletcher Cox is neutralized, the Eagles defense can’t stop anybody
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Chiefs/Patriots -Rodney Harrison said today on a conference call with the New England-area media that he doesn’t believe in either the Chiefs or Patriots defense. Do you believe in any of them in this game? -The over/under for this game is 58.5…and only one such game has closed with such an over/under since 2003. Would you bet the over or under in this game…and why? -This Andy Reid offense gave the Patriots defense FITS last year. Are they better equipped to stop it this time around? -Should we expect to see Josh Gordon’s heaviest workload as a Patriot to date this Sunday? -As bad as their defense is, the Chiefs currently lead the league in third-down defensive efficiency. Is that a mirage…or do they do some things right in that situation? -Most important player in this game for each team not named Mahomes or Brady -Prediction
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SET MY LINEUP BeeJay Strickley (non-PPR) -QB: Newton, Wentz -RB: Carson, Lindsay, Howard, L. Murray -WR: Beckham, Julio, Edelman, J. Brown -TE: Cook, Njoku (if applicable) -Flex: Julian Edelman
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Rapid Fire Predictions -Eagles/Giants -Steelers/Bengals -Chargers/Browns -Bills/Texans -Bears/Dolphins -Cardinals/Vikings -Colts/Jets -Seahawks/Raiders -Panthers/Redskins -Buccaneers/Falcons -Rams/Broncos -Ravens/Titans -Jaguars/Cowboys -49ers/Packers
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Week 6 Bold Predictions -Me: Mitchell Trubisky will throw six INT’s -Hal: Mayfield, Darnold, Allen and Rosen will go 4-0 combined for the second straight week
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Challenge Flags -Me: Denver Broncos….EMBRACE THE TANK!!!! -Hal: Marvin Lewis/Bengals…PROVE ME RIGHT!!!
Thank you Hal…and that’s it for today here on Sports Krunch, but we’ll be back next week for Week 7…so stay tuned! Meanwhile, be sure to check out the episode archive as well as my blog at SportsKrunch.com!! And if you enjoy these podcast episodes please consider leaving us an iTunes review and donating to our Patreon at Patreon.com/SportsKrunch so we can improve our iTunes ranking and afford to produce even more shows with awesome guests like Hal.
For Hal Bent our producer Chris Brodhead, this is David Kromelow saying so long, and as usual, stay awesome!!!
It’s hard to believe…but we’re already one quarter of the way through the 2018 NFL season. And Week 4 gave us some amazing performances. Career games for Jared Goff and Mitchell Trubisky, an impressive debut and “coming of age” game for Patrick Mahomes, three OT games plus two last-second finishes in regulation were a fitting conclusion to the first month of the season…and what we saw this past week is likely just a preview of what awaits us these next 13 weeks. And the journey begins tonight with the beginning of Week 5…and it’s a pleasure to bring back my right-hand man Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com to help us preview what should be another exciting weekend of NFL action.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
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Week 4 Takeaways -I owe the Jaguars AND Titans an apology -Doug Pederson has revolutionized the game for the better
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QUARTER-POLE AWARDS Patrick Mahomes Jared Goff Khalil Mack...
As unpredictable as the NFL was in the first two weeks of its 2018 season, week three emphatically yelled: HOLD MY BEER! In week 3, we witnessed the third largest upset in NFL history as Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills went into Minnesota as 16.5 point underdogs and absolutely HUMILIATED the Vikings…the same Vikings team I predicted to win Super Bowl LIII. Also, Baker Mayfield was forced into action and led the Browns to their first victory since December 2016 in remarkable, come-from-behind fashion. And after three weeks, who would’ve thought that the only three 3-0 teams would be the Rams, Chiefs…and the Miami Dolphins? You truly can’t predict the NFL…and that’s what makes it the greatest thing in sports. And this ride is only about to get more bumpier and unpredictable in Week 4…and what better person is there to preview Week 4 with than my right-hand man Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
- Week 4 Takeaways
-Jaguars played down to their...
Two weeks into the 2018 NFL season, unpredictability remains king of America’s real pastime. Who had the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Ryan Fitzpatrick starting the year 2-0 having the league’s top offense? Who had the league on pace to have 16 games end in a tie two weeks in? What more exciting twist and turns await the NFL in Week 3? And what better person is there to give us an answer then my right-hand man Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com!
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
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Week 2 Takeaways -Nice job of responding to my challenge flag last week Atlanta Falcons!! A perfect 4/4 in the red zone. -The decision making of the Cleveland Browns has hit a new low... and I’m not talking about the Josh Gordon trade. How on Earth did the Browns not waive or IR Zane Gonzalez before Week 1? Had they done that and signed a proven veteran kicker, they’d likely be 2-0 now. Instead they do it two weeks too late and sign an unproven journeyman
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FOUR QUESTIONS -Which of these 2-0 teams is the...
The NFL couldn’t have delivered a better product for opening week of its 2018 season. The drama, several amazing finishes (including a tie and a comeback for the ages), and amazing performances by stars and future stars showed why the NFL has been missed badly these past seven months…and why it’s great to have it back. Now, it’s on to Week 2…and once again, what better person can we have on the program to help me preview another fun week of pro football than my great friend Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
- Week 1 Takeaways
-Stellar QB performances by present and future stars: Rodgers, Brees, Brady, Darnold, Mahomes -Pass rush clinics by Von Miller, Khalil Mack
- Vikings/Packers
-Based on Aaron Rodgers’ press availability today, he sounded like he is more likely than not going to play on Sunday, albeit at less than 100%. But as he showed last Sunday against the Bears (and in 2016), a wounded Rodgers is just as dangerous (if not even more...
I have been waiting seven months to say these seven words: “NFL football is officially back in action.” Tomorrow night, the 2018 season of the National Football League, the greatest reality TV show every conceived, begins in earnest as the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles host the Atlanta Falcons. And we here at Sports Krunch couldn’t have been more excited for 22 weeks of the non-stop, unpredictable drama that is the NFL and me and my right-hand man Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com will have you covered every step of the way. It’s absolutely wonderful to cover yet another intriguing season of pro football with you, Hal. What makes the 2018 NFL season potentially more intriguing than these past seven seasons or so?
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
- Falcons/Eagles -With Nick Foles under center and Alshon Jeffery sidelined, what is the best way for the Eagles to attack this freakishly fast and athletic Falcons defense? -How much will the Eagles be missing LB...
The preseason has concluded and we are less than a week away from the real beginning of the 2018 NFL regular season. Right now, the NFL is in the midst of its most brutal 48-hour period of the year as all 32 clubs are in the process of cutting down their rosters from 90 to 53, which they must do by 4 PM ET today. However, as much as I feel the pain of many of those players getting their dreams deferred right now, I would rather devote the time to discussing the excitement surrounding the National Football League this season…and that’s why today, we are doing our annual “NFL Predictions” episode. And once again, is there any better guy to do it with than my buddy Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com?
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
- This week, the New York Jets did exactly what you recommended they do as they traded Teddy Bridgewater and a 2019 sixth-round pick to the Saints for a 2019 third-round pick. While you cannot ignore Mike Maccagnan’s brilliance in the QB market this...
One of the most interesting dichotomies between fantasy football drafts and the actual NFL Draft involves the QB position. In the NFL Draft, if teams want to draft a bona fide starting franchise QB, not only are they highly unlikely to find one outside the first round, but outside the top-10 picks as well. On the flip side, when it comes to your fantasy draft, you can wait as long as possible to draft a legitimate starter at QB. And in no year does that sentiment ring truer in fantasy than this year. In most mock drafts I’ve done, I’ve been waiting until rounds 9 or 10 to draft a QB…and you’ll be giddy when you see how many good signal-callers are still available at that juncture of your draft. Thus the focus of the third and final edition of our 2018 Fantasy Deep Dive series will be QB’s that can be absolute bargains for your fantasy team on draft day. And to help us break down those QB’s and a lot more QB-centric fantasy topics, is there any guest more appropriate than my man Mark...
Tonight, NFL regular season dress rehearsals commence and that likely means many of you have your fantasy football league drafts in only a matter of days. And if you do so and as a result tuned to us for last minute advice…congratulations! Joining us for our second edition of our 2018 Fantasy Deep Dive series (which covers the RB position) is a man who will give you the insights needed to help you knock your draft out of the ballpark. He is my good friend and mentor, Mr. Mike Dente of FantasyPros.com, Rotoballer.com and ArbourPro.com.
Mike’s Twitter handle: @1stStopFantasy
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This season, would you prefer taking two RB’s with your first two picks, or a RB and WR with your first two picks?
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Who is the most overvalued RB in your view? The most undervalued?
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Question from Patrick (@Mauty480) Is Alvin Kamara worth taking with the fifth overall pick in PPR leagues?
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Question from Jacen (@JacenMiller) Who are two late round sleepers you’re targeting and in what rounds? Are...
2018 training camps are in the books and we are halfway home in the 2018 NFL preseason. This week all 32 teams will prepare for preseason game #3, which is essentially the dress rehearsal for the regular season. There were also a ton of interesting stories to take away from the “prequel” to that dress rehearsal. To recap what we saw this past week and preview what to look for in these all-important third preseason games, what better person is there than my main man Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
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Should Josh Allen start for the Bills in Week 1, or is it too soon to throw him to the wolves by then?
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Isn’t this textbook organizational malpractice by the Browns by not giving Baker Mayfield reps with the first-team offense?
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If nobody comes forward with an offer of a second-round pick or higher for Teddy Bridgewater, should the Jets just hang on to him and get a high 2020 compensatory pick for him instead?
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If Chad Kelly shows more...
As I’ve mentioned several times on this program in recent weeks, the Minnesota Vikings are my pick to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LIII. Last season, despite having a journeyman caretaker under center and losing their star rookie RB to an early season-ending injury, the Vikings rode their supremely-talented, championship level defense and brilliant coaching all the way to the NFC Championship, where their hearts were broken by the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles. This spring, GM Rick Spielman made the necessary moves to help ensure that the Vikings will take that next step. They drastically upgraded the QB position by signing Pro Bowler Kirk Cousins in free agency, re-signed several key pieces of their talented young core to long-term deals, and potentially made their defense even scarier in both free agency as well as the draft. For the Vikings to win their first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history, it’s clearly now or never. Joining me tonight to give us a preview of the...
Three weeks from Thursday night, the 2018 NFL season officially kicks off and that means many of you have your fantasy league drafts right around the corner. We here at Sports Krunch are more committed than ever to not only helping you get ready for draft day. Tonight, we start our annual Fantasy Deep Dive series with a look at which WR’s and TE’s to target or not to target when you’re on the clock. And joining us tonight to answer your questions on this matter is Jeff Haseley. Jeff is a lead writer and weekly columnist for the acclaimed fantasy football website footballguys.com.
Jeff’s Twitter handle: @JeffHaseley
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Is it a safer strategy to wait on drafting a WR given the depth at the position?
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Who is the most overvalued WR in your view? The most undervalued?
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The consensus top four WR’s are Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham, Jr., DeAndre Hopkins and Julio Jones. While Brown is the near-unanimous top WR on the board, the latter three are interchangeable. In what order do you...
With training camps concluding this week, the 2018 NFL season is rapidly approaching us like a freight train. And on and off the field, the roar of the train that is the NFL sounds like its already in midseason form. With numerous clues gathered through week 1 of the preseason and some key developments around the league, there is a lot to talk about today. And what better person is there to do it with than my right hand man Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
- After a 29-day standoff, the Bears and Roquan Smith finally came to an agreement on his rookie contract. Now, the challenge for the Bears is getting the promising young LB ready to play by Week 1. Is the best bet to have Roquan Smith play during the preseason or not having him play and instead spend these next three and a half weeks getting him in 100% football shape before the season opener at the Packers?
- There’s a lot brewing around the injury front as far as the defending Super Bowl...
24 NFL teams have started the 2018 preseason play and the remaining eight join the fun over the weekend. While exhibition games do not count in the NFL…they matter. The preseason is a chance for NFL teams to see how well young players or players coming off injury fare in live game settings, and are central to the decision making process as teams assemble their final 53-man rosters. And to help give you an idea of what to look for around the league as the games (unofficially) commence this week is my right-hand man Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
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What did you think of Lamar Jackson’s performance in the Hall of Fame game?
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What things stood out with the Bears?
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Giants/Browns -With Corey Coleman traded and Antonio Callaway busted again…which Browns WR has the biggest opportunity to prove himself worthy of a starting job in this game? -FWIW, the Browns listed Nick Chubb as the third RB on the depth chart. Do you really think he’s that...
It is officially August, we are a week into 2018 NFL training camps…and tonight, the preseason kicks off with the Hall of Fame Game between the Ravens and the Bears. And a week from tonight, the rest of the league will join in the preseason festivities. We will talk about the Hall of Fame game later on in the program, but first, we’re going to discuss some of the major storylines of the first week of training camp. And joining us to do just that is my right-hand man, Hal Bent of BostonSportPage.com.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
- Not only is Khalil Mack holding out of Raiders camp….but a: the Raiders have not held any talks with his camp since February and b: when asked if the defense can function without Mack, Jon Gruden said “our defense wasn’t good last year, even with Khalil Mack.” While that may be true, I personally believe that that comment reflects tealeaves on this front…and those tealeaves suggest to me that Khalil Mack’s days as a Raider might be numbered.
Three years removed from winning Super Bowl 50, the Denver Broncos have entered an era of uncertainty. This uncertainty goes above and beyond the drama surrounding the ownership succession plan and the elusive search for a stadium naming-rights partner. After a dismal 5-11 campaign in 2017, the Broncos have equipped themselves to remain competitive in the short term and also assembled a 2018 rookie class that should give fans some long-term optimism. However, the two most important components of an NFL franchise, the head coach and QB, remain somewhat of a mystery in the Mile High City. Thus, aside from a playoff berth, what, for the sake of the franchise’s long-term future, would be the most ideal scenario to unfold for the Broncos in 2018? Joining me to answer that question and a lot more is Zac Stevens, who covers the Broncos for BSN Denver. It’s a pleasure to we
It is the belief of many that the Chicago Bears were the winners of the 2018 offseason. Not only did they surround QB Mitchell Trubisky with a new coaching staff that can get the most out of his potential, they drastically upgraded the weapons around Trubisky AND might have had the best draft class on paper. Today, the Bears reported to training camp where they will begin to put this promise into practice. How much of that promise can be harnessed this year? Well, to help us answer that question and many others about this 2018 Chicago Bears team is our good friend Chris Shanafelt of NFLDraftBible.com. Chris’s Twitter handle: @ChrisShanafelt Bears fans should start to panic if Roquan Smith’s contract isn’t done by what date? Who should be the bigger priority to extend: Adrian Amos or Eddie Goldman? How will a more physical training camp benefit a Bears team that’s been devastated by injuries in recent years? Does the complexity of Matt Nagy’s scheme make you worry that Trubisky might...
It is great to be back after a month-and-a-half break and it is even greater to do so now because the first 2018 NFL training camps begin this week! The Ravens and Bears will have their first summer practice this Thursday, exactly two weeks before they kick off the 2018 preseason with the Hall of Fame Game. Technically speaking, football is back and in that spirit, it is a pleasure to welcome back my weekly in-season compatriot Hal Bent of BostonSportPage.com back to the program for our 2018 NFL Training Camp Preview. Welcome back Hal! How are you doing?
I. Contracts and Holdouts
- Today, as the franchise tag deadline passed, Le’Veon Bell and the Steelers could not come to a long-term agreement for the second straight year. This obviously means that not only will Bell play under the tag again, but a: this is likely his final season as a Steeler
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. Today we continue the final leg of our 2018 Dash To The Draft series with a look at the draft hauls in the AFC North. Round one of the 2018 NFL Draft began with the 2017 Heisman trophy winner landing in the AFC North, and ended with the 2016 Heisman winner landing in the AFC North. Joining us today to analyze that plus a lot more on the draft classes of the Browns, Ravens, Bengals and Steelers, is our good friend Pete Smith, Browns and NFL Draft analyst for NFLSpinZone.com. Great to have you back on the program Pete, how are you?
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. This is our second of eight division-by-division recaps of the 2018 NFL Draft and we continue today with the AFC West. This division saw two of the draft’s best defenders land on its turf as well as arguably the most head-scratching class of the year. And to help us break it all down, it’s a pleasure to welcome our good friend Nick Kendell of MileHighHuddle.com back to the program. How are you Nick?
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. The 2018 NFL Draft is in the books, but there is no way we stop our 2018 Dash To The Draft series without a recap of each team’s draft haul. Just like our draft previews for each team, these recaps will be done on a division-by-division basis. We begin these recaps with the AFC East and it was a pleasure to have Connor Rogers join us to help break it all down. Along with renown NFL draft analyst Matt Miller, Connor co-hosts “Stick To Football”, one of THE best football podcasts out there, and he also contributes to Bleacher Report. Without further ado, here is Connor’s take on the 2018 draft classes of the Jets, Bills, Dolphins and Patriots.
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. Today we continue the final leg of our 2018 Dash To The Draft series with a look at the draft hauls in the AFC North. Round one of the 2018 NFL Draft began with the 2017 Heisman trophy winner landing in the AFC North, and ended with the 2016 Heisman winner landing in the AFC North. Joining us today to analyze that plus a lot more on the draft classes of the Browns, Ravens, Bengals and Steelers, is our good friend Pete Smith, Browns and NFL Draft analyst for NFLSpinZone.com. Great to have you back on the program Pete, how are you?
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Why was Baker Mayfield your favorite QB in this draft class and why should Browns fans be optimistic about him as the potential face of the franchise? When at the earliest should we expect to see him start this season?
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Did Denzel Ward’s talent and upside meet the value of the fourth overall pick or do you think the Browns should’ve traded down with Buffalo and
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The Broncos reportedly only had three targets in mind with the fifth overall pick: Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and Bradley Chubb. If none were there, they were prepared to trade down with the Bills. When Chubb unexpectedly fell into their laps, they couldn’t resist passing on him, and rightfully so. What does Bradley Chubb bring to the Broncos pass rush that was missing since DeMarcus Ware hung up his cleats?
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In the second round, the Broncos looked toward the very near future. With the roster spot of Demaryius Thomas in question after the 2018 season given his age and 2019 cap hit, the Broncos picked a near carbon copy of Thomas in SMU WR Courtland Sutton. Although Sutton is projected to be Thomas’s long-term replacement at the ‘X’ receiver position, he has similar holes in his game that Thomas had coming out of college, must notably the lack of a route tree. Thus, Broncos fans shouldn’t expect that big of an impact from Sutton this year. However, it should be incumbent upon the
We begin these recaps with the AFC East and it was a pleasure to have Connor Rogers join us to help break it all down. Along with renown NFL draft analyst Matt Miller, Connor co-hosts “Stick To Football”, one of THE best football podcasts out there, and he also contributes to Bleacher Report.
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The Jets had to be praising the heavens that Sam Darnold, the top QB on their board as well as on most other boards around the league, fell in their lap with the third overall pick. Now that the celebration is over, the main issue with Darnold is when should he see the field this season. Regardless of how he progresses with his mechanics these next few months, would it be better for him to be the starter week 1, or would it be better for him to spend the first 4-8 weeks of the season on the bench?
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Another thing I really liked about this Jets draft is how they reloaded their defensive line…and that front three is a crucial staple of Todd Bowles’ scheme. In round three, they drafted Nathan
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. We are just one day away from the 2018 NFL Draft…and that means it is time to do one more mock draft. Two weeks ago, we gave you a mock draft based on what we think SHOULD happen. Last week’s mock was done based on what we think WOULD happen. This mock draft combines both of those schools of thought in a war room simulation, which should also help give you somewhat of an idea of what goes on behind closed doors on draft day. I will be playing the role of the scout/coach trying to justify to the GM picks I think WILL happen, while the GM (who will be portrayed by our special guest) will either accept or reject each of my picks based on what he believes SHOULD happen. These are basically two mock drafts rolled into one. And to help us with DKrom’s Ultimate Mock Draft of 2018, it is a pleasure to welcome Owen Riese to the show for the very first time. Owen is a contributing NFL Draft analyst for i
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. We are now just one week away from the 2018 NFL Draft! And I can’t wait even one more second for all the smoke to clear. But, since we do have to wait one more week…we’re going to do another mock draft. Last week’s mock was based on what teams SHOULD do. This mock will be based on what we think teams WILL do on the night of April 26. Once again, please keep in mind that A: mock drafts aren’t real and B: as long-time NFL scout Greg Gabriel said on this program a couple weeks ago…”Don’t believe anything you hear.” That said, we have no choice but to take the intel that’s currently out there to heart in order to give you our most educated guess as to how the first round will unfold. And to help us with DKrom Mock 4.0 is our good friend Jordan Reid, a rising star on Draft Twitter who is the host of the “Climbing the Pocket” podcast. You can also find written content of his at climbingthepocket.com.
Dash To The Draft XVIX: NFC East Draft Preview
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. We are less than 10 days away from the 2018 NFL Draft and in that spirit today, we conclude our seven-episode-in-eight-day Dash to the Draft marathon…with the finalinstallment of our division-by-division draft previews. Our eight division pre-draft journey concludes with the NFC East. What do the Giants, Redskins and Cowboys have to do in this draft in order to give the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles a run for their money? What do the Eagles have to do in this draft in order to not only repeat as NFC East champions, but Super Bowl champions as well? Joining us to help us answer those questions is our good friend Emory Hunt, FANTASTIC NFL Draft analyst for footballgameplan.com. It’s a pleasure to have you back on the program Emory, how are you doing?
- The Giants are the biggest wild card in this draft. There is absolutely no certainty as t
Less than three years after winning Super Bowl 50, the Broncos are beginning what should eventually be a large roster retool, and the question is how does that retool take shape with this draft class. Just a year or two before they head off to Vegas, the Raiders brought back Jon Gruden to rebrand the identity of the franchise, but how can be blend his old-school football philosophy with new age talent? In a very weak conference, the Chargers and their stacked roster have a golden opportunity to compete for a Super Bowl, but they also must consider getting Philip Rivers long-term successor as immediately as possible. And last but not least, how do the Chiefs smoothen the transition from the Alex Smith era to the Patrick Mahomes era on both sides of the ball? Joining us now to discuss what these four teams ought to do in the 2018 NFL Draft is Carl Dumler. Carl is an NFL draft analyst for MileHighHuddle.com, same place where friend of the program Nick Kendell resides. Broncos fans can ca
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. This is the fifth edition of our Dash to the Draft marathon this week, which will bring you seven new episodes in eight days…and today, we continue with our division-by-division draft previews with a journey through the NFC North. The NFC North might be the most talented division in terms of QB play in 2018. With the return of Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, the arrival of Kirk Cousins in Minnesota, the continued high-level play of Matthew Stafford in Detroit and the expected second-year leap for Mitchell Trubisky in Chicago, the race for the NFC North crown could be a very competitive one. But are there any pieces in this 2018 NFL Draft that can put one of these teams over the top? Joining us now to help us answer that question plus analyze the draft plans of the Bears, Packers, Lions and Vikings is our good friend Aaron Leming of bearreport.com. It’s a pleasure to have you back on the show Aaron,
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, This is the fourth edition of our Dash To The Draft marathon, which will bring you seven episodes in an eight-day span. One of my favorite things to do during draft season is to determine if there are any rookies skill position players that can be the difference maker for my fantasy football team in both the short and long-term. And THE best resource to help you in that endeavor is Matt Waldman’s Rookie Scouting Portfolio (RSP), 1700+ pages of original, in-depth content that will give you what you need to dominate your league on a consistent basis. A big reason why I know the RSP will give you such an advantage is the fact that Matt’s counsel is constantly sought by NFL front offices throughout the draft process. It is a pleasure to welcome Matt Waldman back to the program to discuss his recently released 2018 RSP.
- An amazing part of your RSP is that it goes against the grain of conventional wisdom both on Draft Twitte
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. This is the third edition of our Dash to the Draft marathon this week, which will bring you seven new episodes in eight days…and today, we continue with our division-by-division draft previews with a look inside the NFC South. The NFC South was the NFL’s most competitive division last season, but each team has some serious questions to answer in the draft. Do the Saints use their picks to go all-in on 1-2 more years with 39-year old Drew Brees…or do they do all they can in order to secure his heir apparent? How should the Panthers reload an aging roster with several soon-to-be retiring cornerstones around Cam Newton? Who do the Falcons need to draft in order to help recapture their Super Bowl level of play from 2016? And last but not least, what is the best plan for the Buccaneers in this draft that will let them become a playoff-caliber team? It was a pleasure having Trevor Sikkema on the prog
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. This is the second edition of our Dash to the Draft marathon this week, which will bring you seven new episodes in eight days…and today, we continue with our divisional draft previews with a trip to the AFC North. And to help us break down the draft plans of the Browns, Bengals, Ravens, and Steelers, it is a pleasure to welcome Jeff Risdon to the program for the very first time. Jeff covers the NFL Draft for RealGM.com and is also the Managing Editor for USA Today’s Browns and Texans fan sites, thebrownswire.com and thetexanswire.com respectively. And that’s not all…you can also catch Jeff on ESPN radio (96.1 FM) in Western Michigan. It’s a pleasure to have you here Jeff, how are you doing?
- Despite all of this Josh Allen buzz that’s rapidly growing by the day, I remain extremely confident that the Browns will select Sam Darnold with the first overall pick. However, what they do at four over
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. We are now 16 [hopefully] good night sleeps away from the 2018 NFL Draft…and I obviously can’t wait even 16 more minutes. But we need to find some way to pass the time, and we plan to do so this week by recording seven more Dash To The Draft episodes in an eight-day span. Today, we would like to start this party off with a little mock draft. Here are three things to keep in mind about this mock as well as mock drafts in general:
Mock drafts aren’t real. They are just exercises in the hypothetical and most picks in the vast majority of these mocks will turn out to be wrong on April 26. Although I personally like to combine my beliefs of what a team should and will do in my mocks, the mocks we will be doing these next few weeks will be more based on what a team SHOULD do since most of the intel we are hearing at the moment will likely be proven false when the picks are made in real time. Althoug
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. We are now less than 20 days away from the 2018 NFL Draft and in that spirit, we continue our division-by-division draft previews today with a look at the NFC West. As we sit now, the Rams have assembled a “Super Bowl or bust” roster, the 49ers are a young team on the rise eager to take that next step, and both the Cardinals and Seahawks are in the midst of roster makeovers. To help us analyze how each team can get better in this 2018 draft, it’s a pleasure to welcome Josh Forrest of Tyrant Scouting back to the program. How are you Josh?
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I see four players that are realistically in play for the 49ers at nine: Roquan Smith, Tremaine Edmunds, Harold Landry, or Derwin James. If you were John Lynch, who would you have as the highest of those four on your board?
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Would you be willing to trade the Giants this and next year’s first for Odell Beckham, Jr. if you were the Niners?
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49ers ideal
As we know, the 2018 NFL Draft is one of the most anticipated in recent years due to the expected quarterback bonanza at the top of round one. And apparently all four teams in the AFC East want to get their hands on one of these promising young signal-callers. A few weeks ago, the Jets moved up to the third overall pick, guaranteeing them that one of their two favorite QB’s will end up in their lap. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills, the team with the largest amount of valuable draft capital this year, are feverishly planning a move up the board from number 12 overall, to potentially as high as 2 overall. And as a result of trading Brandin Cooks to the Rams yesterday, the Patriots now own two firsts and two seconds. And it was reported earlier today that they are plotting a massive move (or two) up the board to secure the heir to Tom Brady. And the Dolphins, despite not having as much capital as the former two, are expected to try to move up as well. Joining us today to preview the 2018 NFL
Well, the 2018 NFL Draft is just over three weeks away and the table is being set for what should be a dramatic night on April 26. And in that spirit tonight, we conclude the positional breakdown installment of our 2018 Dash To The Draft series with a dive into this defensive line and edge rushing class. And we have just the guy to help us analyze this crop of talent…he is our good friend Nick Kendell, NFL Draft analyst for MileHighHuddle.com. And since he is one of the best specialists when it comes to OL, DL, and Edge play, we like to call him “Dr. Trenches.” Welcome back to the program Dr. Trenches…how are you?
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Many view Bradley Chubb as a surefire, blue chip prospect. However, based on conversations we’ve had before, you don’t seem that high on him. Why is that?
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How big of a gap is there between Chubb and Harold Landry? If you’re the Browns at four, is that gap small enough for you to trade down with say Buffalo at 12 and let Landry fall to you instead?
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This edge class
Today, we bring you the second to last position group break down break down of our 2018 Dash To The Draft series. Last year’s RB class is shaping up to be one to remember. Although two RB’s, Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffery went in the first round and went on to enjoy productive seasons, the 2017 league rushing champion (Kareem Hunt) and the 2017 offensive rookie of the year (Alvin Kamara) were steals in the third round. In addition, the electric Tarik Cohen, who was selected in the fourth round, is turning out to be a special playmaker. But as I’ve been saying for months on this program, this 2018 RB class boasts very similar value and potential to last year’s, and to help us analyze this gifted crop of runners, it is a pleasure to welcome our good friend Bill Carroll back to the program. Bill writes for ProPlayerInsiders.com, and NutsandBoltsSports.com and also runs his own scouting service, Consensus Draft Services.
- Many believe Saquon Barkley is both the best overall
With our previews of every position group in this draft class almost finished, we begin another segment in our Dash To The Draft series today. This is the first of an eight-part preview that gives you a division-by-division look at the major needs of every team and what an ideal, yet realistic draft haul would look like for all of them. Tonight we look at a division that was viewed as the worst in the NFL a few years back, but is now becoming one of the most competitive, the AFC South. And to help us preview the potential plans of the Colts, Texans, Titans and Jaguars in the 2018 NFL Draft, it is a pleasure to welcome back our good friend Jake Arthur, who covers the NFL and the Colts StampedeBlue.com back to the show. How are you Jake?
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Under what circumstances do you see the Colts trading down again?
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The Colts are in the midst of a massive roster turnover under second-year GM Chris Ballard. They have a ton of needs, but not all of them can be addressed in this draft alone. Out
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. Today, with the 2018 NFL Draft officially four weeks away, we continue with our seventh installment of Dash to the Draft. It’s a pleasure to welcome our good friend Cole Thompson of draftwire.com back to the program to break down this deep OL class, which could see as many 8-10 members selected in round one. How are you Cole?
- While right tackle is arguably equally as important as left tackle these days, teams still tend to put a slightly higher premium on blindside protectors. Connor Williams and Mike McGlinchey, arguably the top two tackles in this class, are believed to project better to the right side. And due to the lack of quality left tackle prospects in this class, many will get drafted a lot higher than they should. One name getting a lot of first-round buzz is UCLA’s Kolton Miller, despite the belief that he is a proverbial athletic project. What are your thoughts on Miller’s tape
We are officially less than one month away from the 2018 NFL Draft, and next week, NFL clubs will start to finalize their draft boards. In that spirit, we are planning an absolute blitzkrieg of our Dash to the Draft series from now until draft day with as many as 3-4 episodes per week. And we kick off that final sprint tonight with a look at this very deep and talented class of linebackers. And just FYI: by “linebackers”, I don’t mean edge rushers who line up as outside ‘backers in a base 3-4 defense, I mean linebackers who play off the ball, which means their job is to either stop the run, blitz up the middle, or drop into coverage. Here to help give us a glimpse of this promising linebacker crop is our good friend Pete Smith, who covers the NFL Draft and the Cleveland Browns for nflspinzone.com. 1. The guy many expect to be the first linebacker off the board is Georgia’s Roquan Smith. Several have him as a top 5-10 prospect. Do you share that view? Do you think he’ll be selected in
Welcome to the 100th episode of Sports Krunch with DKrom. I’m your host David Kromelow. To commemorate this special occasion, we have decided to give you a glimpse inside the NFL scouting world. Scouts are the unsung heroes of NFL franchises. Behind every Super Bowl winning team, you will find the fingerprints of their scouts’ tireless work. Our special guest, Greg Gabriel, spent 30 years in NFL scouting, where he helped lay the bricks of Super Bowl teams including the 1987, 1991 and 2000 New York Giants and the 2006 Chicago Bears. Today, Greg is a contributor to Pro Football Weekly, 670 The Score in Chicago, and BuffaloSportsPage.com, where you can catch his coverage during football and NFL Draft season. But for now, sit back, relax, and enjoy this journey through the life and mind of an NFL scout with the one and only Greg Gabriel.
Greg’s Twitter handle: @greggabe
- Give us an insight of a typical day in the life of an NFL scout while he’s on the road evaluating prospects. (Miles
We are officially less than five weeks away from the 2018 NFL Draft, and the jockeying has already begun. These past five days, two trades that will likely effect what happens on the night of April 26 have gone down. Late last week, the Jets traded their two second-round picks this year plus their 2019 second-rounder to the Colts to move up to the third spot and select a QB. And earlier today, the Giants, who own the 2nd overall pick, traded away DE Jason Pierre-Paul and their 2018 fourth-round pick to the Buccaneers in exchange for Tampa’s 2018 third and fourth-round selections. I can’t remember seeing this much movement at such a point before a draft…and this is only the beginning. While we await the next trade, we shall continue with the fifth installment of our 2018 Dash To The Draft series. Today, we will be analyzing this year’s WR & TE classes with the help of Kevin Brown, who is an NFL Draft analyst for profootballdraftzone.com.
Kevin’s Twitter handle: @nfldraftnik
It has
The 2018 NFL free agency frenzy is mostly in the rear view mirror and that means the attention of the NFL universe now shifts to the 2018 draft, which is just over five weeks away. As a result, you can expect our Dash To The Draft series to kick into overdrive from now until draft day as we bring you the latest insight and analysis to keep you distracted from all the smoke and mirrors teams will throw at you over this next month. Tonight, we bring you the fourth edition of our 2018 draft series with a dive into this talented DB class. And joining us to break these DB prospects down is Jeff Barnes, the lead writer for Cover2Draft.com.
Jeff’s Twitter handle: @Cover2Draft
- Let’s begin with a prospect that is apparently viewed differently within the NFL as opposed to the media and Draft Twitter, and that is super-versatile Alabama DB Minkah Fitzpatrick. While many on our side of the fence still see him as a top-five, can’t miss prospect, NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein tweeted ou
In a so-called “NFL offseason” that has had more drama than any other, the intensity is only about to get crazier within the next 72 hours. On Monday at noon ET, the NFL free agency frenzy essentially begins as teams can start to negotiate with representatives of free agents. And from then until the 2018 League Year officially begins at 4 PM ET on Wednesday, expect many deals to be struck along with many unexpected twists and turns. And to give us all a preview of what to expect and anticipate these next few days is NFL insider extraordinaire Erick Trickel. Erick covers the NFL, the NFL Draft and the Denver Broncos for MileHighHuddle.com. Not only is he one of THE most wired-in people to the inner NFL world that I know, he is also an amazing friend and mentor.
Let’s start with what makes this year’s free agency period so unique and that is the amount of serviceable QB’s hitting the market. As you tweeted out last night, it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that the crown jewel of
Well, the Combine is over and the lying and smoke screening have begun in earnest. And in our third edition of our “Dash To The Draft” series, we have a very special guest that will do his best to help separate the signal from the noise coming out of the Combine. He is Eric Galko, one of the best and most well-connected figures in the NFL Draft industry. He is the owner, director (and founder) of Optimum Scouting, a consulting service that writes scouting reports for several professional football teams. He also hosts his own podcast called “Scanning the Field,” a podcast I would HIGHLY recommend to all of you, and he also writes for Sporting News. It was a pleasure meeting Eric down in Mobile, Alabama at the Senior Bowl, and it is a pleasure to welcome him to the program for the very first time.
- Let’s begin with arguably the best overall prospect in this draft class, and that is Saquon Barkley. There was a lot of chatter coming out of Indy that he will be highly considered by the
This is part two of our “Dash To The Draft” series for 2018. When it comes to evaluating prospective NFL quarterbacks in this day and age, I’m often reminded of what Winston Churchill once said of the then-Soviet Union: “It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.” It has always been difficult to find that safe, sure-fire QB prospect a la Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck. And the proliferation of spread, option-based offenses in college football has made that task even harder, thus the riddle even more puzzling. While the 2018 QB draft class is sizzling with potential, it lacks that sure thing. And as noted NFL draft analyst Matt Miller (Bleacher Report) suggested a few weeks back, he doesn’t remember a quarterback class with such a high ceiling that has also had such serious flaws. And joining us tonight to address these quarterbacks and the intrigue, shortfalls, and mystery surrounding them is one of THE best quarterback analysts in the business. He is Mark Schofield of In
While the official beginning of NFL free agency is March 14 at 4 PM ET, free agency really begins on March 12 when teams can contact the representatives of impending free agents to negotiate potential deals. In other words, we are exactly two weeks away from NFL free agency. Above all, this promises to be one of THE most dramatic free agent periods we’ve ever seen given the rather unprecedented game of quarterback musical chairs that’s about to commence. A team squarely in the center of that game is the Minnesota Vikings. With one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the NFL, the Vikings are widely viewed as a legitimate franchise QB away from winning their first ever Lombardi Trophy. But what exactly are their options at QB and why is this looming decision more complicated for the Vikings brass than many may initially think? Joining us to discuss the Vikings QB situation plus their plans elsewhere in free agency and the draft is Jordan Reid. Jordan is a big Vikings fan, a world
Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. And welcome to the first ever episode of “The Weekly Krunch”, a once-a-week segment in which I break down the top NFL stories of the week and my take on them. The week of February 19, 2018 in the NFL can be summed up in three simple words: tags, trades, and quarterbacks.
Tags. While the deadline for teams to administer franchise or transition tags is March 6 at 4 PM ET, the window for doing so opened this past Tuesday February 20. And in stark contrast to traditional tagging practices, the Miami Dolphins placed the franchise tag on WR Jarvis Landry on Tuesday. Most teams wait until closer to the deadline to apply tags, so why did the Dolphins do so right off the hop? According to Dolphins beat writer Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, while the Fins remain “open” to signing Landry to a long-term deal, the “likeliest outcome” is that they trade him. Potential suitors for Landry could be the Bal
With the combine and free agency right around the corner, all 32 teams in the NFL have a golden opportunity to get better…and get better fast. A team that, in my opinion, can quietly enter playoff contention in 2018 with a good haul in both free agency and the draft is the Chicago Bears. With a promising young QB entering his second season in Mitchell Trubisky, a bright, young and innovative offensive mind in Matt Nagy taking over as head coach, and some underrated talent on both sides of the ball, the Bears have the potential to take a giant leap forward this year. Joining us to talk about the Bears and their “offseason” priorities is our good friend Chris Shanafelt, a big Bears fan himself, who writes for nfldraftbible.com and hosts his own podcast “The Chris and D.J. Show” with former Bears CB D.J. Moore.
- As I have said many times on this program, I am very impressed with the new coaching staff the Bears have assembled. What are your thoughts on Matt Nagy and the new coaches?
We are just one week away from the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine and in that spirit, we kick off our 2018 Dash To The Draft series here on Sports Krunch. This weekly series will give you a look at each position group in this draft class, plus team needs on a division-by-division basis. But today, as I alluded to earlier, we will discuss what to watch out for at the combine. Next week, the entire NFL descends on Indianapolis along with 336 individual prospects. These prospects will undergo medical evaluations, have personal interviews with teams, and of course participate the proverbial “Underwear Olympics.” Joining us today to discuss all of that is a good friend who I met down in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, he is Cole Thompson of draftwire.com.
What is the bigger red flag for Josh Rosen to address in Indy: His medical history or his character/personality? What would be an ideal result in arm length measurement for Connor Williams? Can his other strengths overcome his short arm-length or
The saying that there is no “offseason” in the NFL was proven once again this week. Just days after Super Bowl LII, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels shockingly backed away from an agreement to become the new head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. That agreement had been in place for weeks. Still, the Colts and GM Chris Ballard did not panic and immediately resumed their search. That search came to a swift end today as they reached an agreement with now former Eagles OC Frank Reich on a five-year deal to become their new head coach. Some of you may know Reich mostly as the engineer of the largest comeback in NFL playoff history when he was Jim Kelly’s backup in Buffalo, but last week he helped engineer one of the best offensive game plans in Super Bowl history which helped the Eagles to their first ever Super Bowl championship. Joining us now to break down this hire and the challenges facing the Colts over the next few months is our good friend Jake Arthur, who covers the Co
Thank you football gods for answering our prayers!!! The 2017 NFL season concluded with one of the most memorable playoffs and Super Bowls I have ever seen. It all culminated over the weekend with Super Bowl LII, a game that set the record for most combined total yards (1,151) and went back and forth until the final minutes, resulting in the first ever Super Bowl championship for the Philadelphia Eagles, as they upset the New England Patriots 41-33. Joining us to recap this classic Super Bowl plus what lies ahead on the NFL calendar is our good friend Hal Bent, who covers the NFL and Patriots for FullPressCoverage.com.
- Super Bowl Game Recap a. Can you name another coach in recent NFL history not named Bill Belichick that did such a masterful, championship-winning job as the one Doug Pederson just did? b. Do you think the Patriots would have won SB LII had Malcolm Butler played?? Or is it unfair to blame the Patriots loss solely on this one variable? c. Aside from Nick Foles, wh
Well, this is it. In just six days, the 2017 NFL season will culminate in Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots. This is a week to not only anticipate this fascinating matchup of this century’s NFL dynasty against a promising insurgent, but to celebrate this game of football that we all love. And joining us once again to discuss all things Super Bowl LII is our good friend Hal Bent, who covers the NFL and Patriots for FullPressCoverage.com.
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If you were on the Pro Football HOF Board of Selectors, which five modern-era nominees would you vote for and why?
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Patriots Questions a. The last time the Patriots faced the Eagles in a Super Bowl, both OC Charlie Weis and DC Romeo Crennel left the team for head coaching jobs. Fast forward 13 years later, and the Patriots find themselves in the exact same situation, poised to lose both offensive and defensive coordinators to head coaching jobs after a rendezvous with the Eagles in a Supe
Jeremy Reaves: One of the stars of Senior Bowl Saturday was South Alabama safety Jeremy Reaves. I caught up with him after the game and asked him how it felt to deliver a spectacular performance in his final game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium (where he played his college ball). He also broke down the 4th-and-1 okay where he swallowed up Arizona State RB Kalen Ballage before Ballage could make it past the sticks. We also discussed his favorite NFL safeties and the best trait he’ll bring to an NFL team. (Disclaimer: Friend of the show Jonah Tuls LOVES this kid and expects his draft stock to skyrocket)
Will Hernandez: A player who made himself a lot of money this week was UTEP guard Will Hernandez. I got a chance to talk to him again after the game. We discussed the scouting report on him posted on NFL.com this week that compared him to one of his heroes, Bills Pro Bowl guard Richie Incognito. Will also talked about the increasing importance of the guard position and his plans for the upcoming
Cecil Lammey (FootballGuys.com and 104.3 THE FAN in Denver) joined me on Day 5 of the 2018 Reese’s Senior Bowl. We discussed why the stellar performance of Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield during the week of practice should make the Broncos reconsider how hard they go after Kirk Cousins in free agency. Cecil also told us why it’s unlikely 3+ interior OL go in the first round, despite one of the best classes at the position in years. Finally, Cecil explained why we shouldn’t take the Combine as seriously as the Senior Bowl and why the Patriots will win their sixth Super Bowl title next Sunday
Twitter: @CecilLammey
Day 4 from The Reese’s Senior Bowl with Iowa State WR Allen Lazard, Penn State WR DaeSean Hamilton and Penn State TE Mike Gesicki after the final North Team practice during Senior Bowl week. They talked about the NFL players at their position they look up to the most, the traits that would make them indispensable to an NFL team, and a whole lot more!!!
Twitter:
Lazard: @AllenLazard Hamilton: @SkeeterMills_ Gesicki is not on Twitter
Day 4 from The Reese’s Senior Bowl with Nevada OL Austin Corbett, Oklahoma State WR Marcell Ateman and LSU WR D.J. Chark after the conclusion of the final South Team practice. Corbett discussed the rising importance of the guard and center positions in the NFL. Ateman discussed which CB’s stood out to him during the week and Chark talked up his college teammate Derrius Guice, one of the top three RB prospects in this draft class. They also talked about the NFL players at their position they look up to the most and the best contribution they would make to an NFL franchise.
Twitter:
Austin: @BigCorbs73 Ateman: @ItsMarcell Chark: @DJChark82
Before he had to catch a flight home, Cole Thompson (draftwire.com) joined us once again and discussed whose draft stock rose and whose draft stock fell during Senior Bowl week. @MrColeThompson
Josh Norris of Rotoworld.com discusses two small-school prospects that could rise up draft boards due to their Senior Bowl performances, who “won” the QB duel between Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield, and a Senior Bowl WR that could provide value in your fantasy league in 2018. @JoshNorris
Steve Atwater joined me to discuss the safety talent that has stood out at the Senior Bowl, how safeties must be coached in college in order to become successful pros and his hopes that more safeties (including him) will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame sooner rather than later. @SteveAtwater27
Andy Benoit (Sports Illustrated and The MMQB) joined us for a conversation about quarterbacks. He talked about the mandatory traits (such as pocket passing) in a QB draft prospect, what Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky needs to do in order to be successful and whether accuracy or arm-strength is more important (@AndyBenoit)
Calvin Watkins - Jets reporter for Newsday discusses his thoughts on how the Jets should address the quarterback position this offseason, the similarities and differences between new offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates and previous OC John Morton, and other areas the Jets should address via free agency and the draft (@CalvinWatkins)
Cole Thompson of draftwire.com joined us to recap the second day of Senior Bowl practices. He discussed the main standouts of the day, why Baker Mayfield won the QB duel with Josh Allen again, and an exciting small-school OT prospect (@MrColeThompson)
Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer joined us to discuss the Browns plans at QB with the first pick in the draft (yes UCLA QB Josh Rosen is in play), why Browns fans should feel very hopeful about the new front office under GM John Dorsey, and why the presence of new offensive coordinator Todd Haley is good for head coach Hue Jackson (@MaryKayCabot)
Adam Beasley, Dolphins reporter for the Miami Herald joined me to discuss the Dolphins quarterback quandary and their agenda in the 2018 NFL Draft (Adam on Twitter: @AdamHBeasley)
Cole Thompson (draftwire.com) and I recap the first day of Senior Bowl practices. We discuss the risers and fallers, who won the QB duel between Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen and a lot more!!! (Cole on Twitter: @MrColeThompson)
Guard Will Hernandez of UTEP is arguably the best prospect at his position in this draft class sans Quenton Nelson. He DOMINATED practices on Tuesday. I spoke to him earlier in the day and we discussed his playing style and the NFL guards he looks up to, how he’d feel playing for his college coach Sean Kugler (now the Broncos OL coach) again at the pro level, and why his sense of loyalty is the best thing he would bring to an NFL team (Will on Twitter: @willhernandez76)
A player who quietly stood out at Tuesday’s practice was LB Fred Warner of BYU. I caught up with Fred earlier in the day and asked him about the NFL linebackers he admires most and what the biggest asset he would bring to an NFL team is (Fred on Twitter: @Fred_Warner)
NFL insider Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated and The MMQB) kindly joined me for a brief moment to give me the latest on the situation with Kirk Cousins and contract negotiations between the Rams and All Pro DT Aaron Donald (Albert on Twitter: @AlbertBreer)
Cameron Wolfe, ESPN NFL Nation Titans reporter joined me to talk some Titans. We discussed new head coach Mike Vrabel, the team’s search for a new offensive coordinator to help Marcus Mariota take the next step, and the positional needs for the Titans to address via free agency and the draft. Cameron on Twitter: @CameronWolfe
I talked with Terez Paylor, Chiefs reporter for the Kansas City Star. We discussed the Chiefs QB situation headed into 2018 (Alex Smith or Patrick Mahomes), the impact new offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy will have on the offense, and the Chiefs plan of attack in the 2018 NFL Draft. Terez on Twitter: @TerezPaylor
Matt Musil of KHOU-TV in Houston joined me to provide some Texans news. We discussed the health statuses of Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt and the issues the Texans need to address in the draft. Matt on Twitter: @KHOUSportsMatt
Dave Birkett, Lions reporter for the Detroit Free Press joined me to discuss next week’s vote for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018 (Dave is one of the voters on the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors). We also talked about New Lions head coach Matt Patricia and the areas of need for the Lions to address in the 2018 draft. Dave’s Twitter: @davebirkett
I talked with Charles Davis (NFL Network, NFL on Fox). He provided a basic summary of the 2018 draft class and discussed the increasing influence of college schemes on NFL offenses and how it helps quarterback development. Charles’ Twitter: @CFD22
Live from Reese's #SeniorBowl interview with legendary NFL reporter/columnist @VicCarucci of The Buffalo News. We spoke about the 2018 QB draft class, the Bills intentions at QB, and the players we’ll be watching this week. His Twitter handle is @VicCarucci.
Live from Reese's Senior Bowl interview with Brad Biggs, the Bears beat reporter for the Chicago Tribune. We talked about the Bears new coaching staff and their plans for the 2018 draft. His Twitter handle is @BradBiggs.
The 2017 NFL season is boiled down to three games and four teams as we get ready for Conference Championship weekend. Who would’ve thought that this year’s penultimate round in the NFL would consist of Tom Brady, Blake Bortles, Case Keenum and Nick Foles?? That list of QB’s sans Tom Brady might not sound appealing, but the overall quality of football teams knocking on the door of Super Bowl LII is more than appealing and full of intrigue. Joining me once again to break this all down is honorary friend of the program, Hal Bent who covers the NFL and the Patriots for MusketFire.com and FullPressCoverage.com. 1. Jaguars/Patriots a. On a scale of 1-10, how concerned should Patriots fans be about Tom Brady’s thumb injury? b. If there has been any person who has known how to beat Tom Brady and succeeded, it’s Tom Coughlin. And looking at this Jaguars roster, it is similarly constructed (albeit without a proven franchise QB) like those Giants teams that upset the Patriots in two Super Bowl
Now that the 2017 NFL season has reached conference championship week, it means that 28 of the 32 NFL teams are now looking ahead to the 2018 season. Several teams have already undergone significant changes to their coaching staffs, and most (if not all) are getting ready for free agency and the draft. And to give us the news and analysis on this front, it is a pleasure to welcome back to the program our good friend Aaron Leming of bearreport.com.
Aaron’s Twitter handle: @AaronLemingNFL
Of the two remaining head coaching vacancies, which job is the most appealing, Cardinals or Titans? (Did the Titans handle the Mike Mularkey situation poorly? If so, if you were a head coaching candidate, would the way the Mularkey firing went down make you hesitant to accept the job?) Of all the new head coaches hired so far, which is the best hire and which is the worst hire and why? What are your thoughts on the Seahawks coaching staff shakeup and do you think it foreshadows an upcoming roster purg
From January 22-27, Sports Krunch will be hitting the road and going to Mobile, Alabama to cover the 2018 Reese’s Senior Bowl. It is something I have been meaning to do for quite a while, and I cannot wait to bring you all non-stop coverage that week of one of the big events in the lead-up to the NFL Draft, as the entire NFL universe will be descending on Mobile, Alabama to get a glimpse at the next crop of potential stars. And to break down this exciting week, it is an honor to welcome back another friend of the program who will also be down in Mobile bringing terrific coverage, Mr. Pete Smith (NFLSpinZone.com). 1. Obviously, people’s eyes in Mobile will be primarily on the quarterbacks, especially 2017 Heisman winner Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen. Has Mayfield already done enough to solidify himself as a top-five pick, if not the first overall pick? What does he need to do during the week to quiet the doubters? 2. There are a lot of mixed reports about Josh Allen. Some people still
Our prayers to the football gods were answered as Wild Card weekend delivered an unbelievable product, with three games decided by a touchdown or less. And I certainly hope the Divisional Round, which is usually the most exciting weekend on the NFL calendar, brings us some more heart-palpitating finishes. And to help us break down this weekend’s games and the NFL’s Elite 8, it is a pleasure to bring back once again our good friend Hal Bent, who covers the Patriots for Scout media, MusketFire.com and Cover32.com. 1. Is the slate of divisional round games more or less interesting than the Wild Card round, and why?
- Falcons/Eagles -Despite losing Carson Wentz and finishing the season poorly on offense, the Eagles feel disrespected being the underdog at home. How do you feel about the Eagles chances of pulling off the upset against the Falcons? (How well does Nick Foles have to play and how should the Eagles game plan to help him succeed?) -The Falcons have hit their stride defensivel
Happy New Year everybody! We hope all of you had a wonderful holiday. Well, the 2017 NFL regular season has ended and that means it’s playoff time. The final lap to Super Bowl LII officially begins this Saturday as Wild Card weekend commences. And to help us break down all four Wild Card playoff matchups, we are joined once again by our good friend Hal Bent, NFL and Patriots writer for Cover32.com, MusketFire.com, and Scout media. Happy New Year Hal!! Ready for some playoff football??
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What were your big takeaways from the 2017 regular season??
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Titans/Chiefs -How should the Titans game plan in order to best set up Marcus Mariota for success on Saturday? -Which of the Chiefs three biggest weapons (Kareem Hunt, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill) will be the most important for the Titans D to contain? -In a matchup of team strengths, which unit has the edge: Chiefs pass rush or Titans OL? Do you think the Titans can run the ball to mitigate that pass rush against an inconsistent Chiefs
Merry Christmas everybody! Well, they’re only two more weeks left to go in the 2017 NFL season, and the playoff picture is quickly coming together. Despite the lack of appeal regarding the matchups this weekend, a LOT of playoff seeds could be locked up after Monday. And to break it down for us, we once again would like to welcome back our good friend Hal Bent, NFL and Patriots writer for Cover32.com, MusketFire.com, and Scout media, to the program.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
Other Twitter handles: @MusketFire, @Cover32_NE
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What were your big takeaways from Week 15??
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Who do you think will be the Wild Card seeds in the AFC? In the NFC?
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Falcons/Saints -What do the Falcons need to do the most in order to pull off the upset? Do you trust them to finish strong? -What matchup will determine the outcome of this game the most? -Who wins and why?
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Rams/Titans -Even though there is a lot at steak (playoff-wise) in this game for both teams, is this matchup somewhat of
Happy Hanukkah everybody! Well, we are down to the final three weeks of the 2017 NFL season and the road to Super Bowl LII took another unpredictable turn this past week. The turn consisted of devastating injuries and poor performances, resulting in a more wide open race for both the NFC and AFC titles. And our good friend Hal Bent, NFL and Patriots writer for Cover32.com, MusketFire.com, and Scout media, is here to help us analyze where it all stands right now, and where it’s likely heading. Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01 Other Twitter handles: @MusketFire, @Cover32_NE 1. What were your big takeaways from Week 14?? 2. With Carson Wentz out for the season, who would you say is the favorite to win the NFC Championship right now? How far can the Eagles go without him? 3. How concerned should Patriots fans be based on last night? On a scale of 1-10, how badly do they need home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs? 4. Are the Jaguars a legitimate Super Bowl contender?
It’s hard to believe, but the 2017 NFL season has already entered the top of the stretch, and the playoff picture became even more interesting given the results in Week 13. With many consequential matchups looming ahead this week, the picture could get even more fascinating. And to help us break it all down, it is a pleasure to welcome back yet again our good friend Hal Bent, NFL and Patriots writer for Cover32.com, MusketFire.com, and Scout media.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
Other Twitter handles: @MusketFire, @Cover32_NE
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What were your big takeaways from Week 13??
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Do you see the Seahawks sneaking by the Rams to win the NFC West??
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Who is the favorite for the NFC’s #1 playoff seed?
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Which of these under-the-radar teams would you be the most shocked by if they made the playoffs?: Packers, Cowboys, Lions, Bills
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Saints/Falcons
How does Desmond Trufant’s presence in this game help give the Falcons a better chance to win?? How can the Falcons move the ball bette
On this edition of the program, we are pleased to have our good friend Jake Marsing join us again for a special “all things football” discussion. Jake left Denver and the 5280 Sports Network (where he covered both the Broncos and the Nuggets) this summer for Fayetteville, Arkansas where he currently covers Arkansas Razorback football. We plan to discuss some of the big storylines surrounding the NFL and college football as well.
Jake’s Twitter handle: @JakeDMarsing
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Why are the Broncos here (as you have been foreseeing for quite some time)?
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In some of our prior conversations, you were adamant you weren’t sold on Dak Prescott given the fact he was in the PERFECT situation for a rookie QB. Given the struggled mightily last week without Ezekiel Elliott and Tyron Smith, yet still looked impressive with them on the field this year, where do you stand now on Dak?
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Should the Vikings keep starting Case Keenum as long as Keenum continues to play well? Do they need to go to Teddy Bri
Week 11 of the 2017 NFL season is upon us, and it’s good to have our great friend Hal Bent of MusketFire.com, Cover32.com and Scout media back on the show to break down this week’s slate of games.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
Other Twitter handles: @MusketFire, @Cover32_NE
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What were your big takeaways from Week 10??
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Rams/Vikings
What has been the secret to the Vikings astonishing offensive success this year? Which unit has the edge: Rams OL or Vikings DL?? What individual one-on-one matchup will you be watching the most in this game? Who wins and why?
- Redskins/Saints
Does this Redskins offense have what it takes to exploit the Saints defense and why? The Saints have astonishingly transformed offensively into a run-first attack. If this game is a shootout and Brees needs to throw more, who needs to step up in the passing game the most aside from Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara? Who wins?
- Eagles/Cowboys
What do the Cowboys have to do to help Dak Prescott av
There are only two weeks left in the 2017 college football season before it’s conference championship and bowl game time, which means that NFL scouting departments will likely be watching the final snaps of (and assigning final grades to) many, if not most of the 2018 NFL Draft prospects. And in that spirit, we would like to continue our 2018 NFL Draft preview series with a look at this DB class. And to help us break down where it stands at the moment, it’s a pleasure to welcome to the program for the very first time, Josh Forrest of Tyrant Scouting.
Josh’s Twitter handle: @jpfscouting Other handles: @Tyrant_Scouting
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This is a draft class lacking in surefire star power, but one of the few such players coming in is versatile Alabama DB Minkah Fitzpatrick. What makes him such a special player and is he worth a top-five overall pick in your view?
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Another S people were high on coming into this year was Florida State’s Derwin James. Although he is still likely to be a first-round
The first half of the 2017 NFL season is officially in the books and the second half begins in earnest Thursday night as the Seahawks meet the Cardinals. And to help us break down these week 10 match ups plus the playoff race going forward is our good friend Hal Bent of MusketFire.com, Cover32.com and Scout media.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
Other Twitter handles: @MusketFire, @Cover32_NE
What were your big takeaways from Week 9?? What current division leaders would you say are locks to win their division? Who is more likely to win their division?
-Jaguars or Titans?
-Vikings or Lions?
-Saints or Panthers?
-Seahawks or Rams?
Is there any team few or nobody are expecting to make the playoffs right now that you think will wind up playing in January?
Saints/Bills
Which defense has the edge in this game and why? What can the Bills offense do to exploit the Saints D, and vice versa? Who wins?
Cowboys/Falcons
Assuming Ezekiel Elliott w
It’s week 9 in the NFL, meaning we have officially reached the halfway point of the 2017 season. And that halfway point was marked with a trading frenzy that we have rarely seen in the NFL. And to help us break down these blockbuster trades and week 9 matchups plus hand out our midseason awards, it is a pleasure to welcome back our good friend Hal Bent of MusketFire.com, Cover32.com and Scout media to the show. What’s up Hal?
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
Other Twitter handles: @MusketFire, @Cover32_NE
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What were your big takeaways from Week 8??
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What grades would you give the big trades that went down and why?
-Marcel Dareus to the Jaguars -Duane Brown to the Seahawks -Jimmy Garoppolo to the 49ers -Jay Ajayi to the Eagles -Kelvin Benjamin to the Bills
- Midseason Awards
-OPOY: (Alex Smith) -DPOY: (Calais Campbell) -OROY: (Deshaun Watson) -DROY: (Marshon Lattimore) -Most Improved Player: (Akiem Hicks) -Comeback POY: (Earl Thoma
We are down to the final five weeks of 2017 college football season and after that, we have conference championship games, bowl games, and of course, NFL scouting departments completing their initial reports on 2018 NFL Draft prospects. And to give us a glimpse at how the 2018 crop of OL/DL/EDGE looks at this point, it’s a pleasure to welcome back to the program our good friend Nick Kendell of MileHighHuddle.com. What’s up Nick?
Nick’s Twitter handle: @NickKendellMHH
Texas HC Tom Herman announced yesterday that OT Connor Williams, still viewed by many as a first-round prospect, can return from his knee injury as soon as November 11, when Texas plays West Virginia. Even before he got hurt, Williams play seemed to regress. What do you think was the main culprit of that? Do you still think he declares for the draft?
As of today, how many OT do you see going in the first round? Can this class be better than the 2017 class??
Many people believe Notre Dame G Quenton Nelson is a surefir
It’s week 8 in the NFL, meaning we’re almost at the halfway point of the 2017 season. And to help us break down these week 8 matchups, it is a pleasure to welcome back our good friend Hal Bent of MusketFire.com, Cover32.com and Scout media to the show.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
Other Twitter handles: @MusketFire, @Cover32_NE
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What were your big takeaways from Week 7??
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Do you expect any trades to come down before the deadline on Tuesday? If so, what trade would you like to see happen and why?
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Chargers/Patriots
How bad is the Dont’a Hightower injury (on a scale of 1-10) for the Patriots defense not just in this game, but going forward as well? Do you think the Chargers pose more of a challenge to the Pats on both sides of the ball than the Falcons did? What matchup will decide the game and why? Who wins?
- Texans/Seahawks
Will Bob McNair’s comments be an unwelcome distraction or extra motivation for the Texans? How can Deshaun Watson pass the biggest test of his
It’s week 7 of the 2017 NFL season and it began last night with one of the wildest endings to a football game I’ve ever seen as the Raiders picked up a HUGE, last-second win against the Chiefs 31-30. And to discuss this and the rest of the week 7 action, it is a pleasure to welcome back our good friend Hal Bent of MusketFire.com, Cover32.com and Scout media to the show. What’s up Hal?
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
Other Twitter handles: @MusketFire, @Cover32_NE
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What were your big takeaways from Week 6 and last night??
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Do you remember a season where it seemed this wide open??
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Cardinals/Rams
Can Adrian Peterson help lead the Cardinals back to the playoffs? Was last week a fluke? What do the Rams need to do offensively to recapture some of their early-season mojo? Who wins and why?
- Bengals/Steelers
I smell a low-scoring, defensive struggle in this game, do you? What matchup are you watching the most? Who wins and why?
- Falcons/Patriots
What are the main symptoms
We are already at the halfway point of the 2017 college football season and that means that NFL scouting departments have already completed a significant number of player evaluations that will go a long way in determining who lands where in the 2018 NFL Draft. And to give us a glimpse at how the 2018 crop of QB/RB/WR/TE looks at this point, it’s a pleasure to welcome back to the program Jonah Tuls of DraftBreakdown.com.
Jonah’s Twitter handle: @JonahTulsNFL
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There have been mixed reports as to whether or not Sam Darnold will declare for the 2018 NFL Draft. Do you think he declares? Would it be a bad idea for him to stay at USC for one more year?
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Two polarizing QB prospects getting a lot of buzz recently are Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma State) and Josh Allen (Wyoming). For what reason do you think some NFL decision makers view them as first-round talents aside from the fact that they play the most important position in sports??
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How many QB’s do you see going in the first round a
It’s week 6 of the 2017 NFL season and it began with another entertaining finish Thursday night with the red hot Philadelphia Eagles hanging on to beat the Carolina Panthers 28-23 to move to 5-1 on the season. And to discuss this and the rest of the week 6 action, it is a pleasure to welcome back our good friend Hal Bent of MusketFire.com, Cover32.com and Scout media to the show.
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What were your four big takeaways from Week 5??
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Is it time to climb aboard the Eagles hype train??
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Packers/Vikings
With no Sam Bradford, Stefon Diggs or Dalvin Cook, what is the best thing for this Vikings offense to do in order to move the ball efficiently and score points against a suspect Packers defense? What specific matchup are you watching between the Packers offense and Vikings defense? Who wins and why?
- Rams/Jaguars
It’s hard to find a weakness on this Jacksonville defense. If you can spot one, what is it and how can the Rams exploit it? How does Brandon Linder being out change the
Well, we are already a quarter of the way through the 2017 NFL season (can you believe it?) and for the second week in a row, the NFL brought us some more exciting, heart-palpitating finishes. And Week 5 brings us a slate that promises more of such quality entertainment, beginning this Thursday night as week 5 kicks off with the Patriots meeting the Buccaneers for what could be a shootout in Tampa. And to help us preview that and the other intriguing week 5 contests, let’s bring in our good friend Hal Bent, Patriots writer for MusketFire.com, Cover32.com and Scout media, to the show.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
Other Twitter handles: @MusketFire, @Cover32_NE
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What were your four big takeaways from Week 4??
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Patriots/Buccaneers
What is the bigger problem for the Patriots defense: Lack of pass rush or communication issues in the secondary? Is it fair to expect the Patriots to show dramatic improvement on defense in just four days or should we expect a shootout? Who wins an
It’s hard to believe we’re already almost a quarter of the way through the 2017 NFL season as week 4 began Thursday night with the Packers embarrassing the Bears 35-14. And to help us preview the remaining games left before we reach that quarter pole, it’s a pleasure to welcome back yet again our good friend Hal Bent, Patriots writer for MusketFire.com, Cover32.com and Scout media, to the show.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
Other Twitter handles: @MusketFire, @Cover32_NE
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Should Danny Trevathan be suspended, and if so, for how many games should the suspension be?
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Is there any reasons for the Bears to NOT start Mitchell Trubisky next week against the Vikings?
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Rams/Cowboys
Do you see this game coming down to who has the ball last? Are the Rams capable of fixing their run defense enough to contain Ezekiel Elliott? Who’s this game more important for: Dallas or LA? Who wins and why?
- Bills/Falcons
The Bills are currently the only team ranked in the top ten in both run
NFL Week 3 began last week with an unexpectedly entertaining barn-burner between the Rams and 49ers with LA escaping an admirable San Francisco comeback by a score of 41-39. We arguably saw the best game of this young 2017 NFL season last night, but hopefully it is a sign of exciting games to come this weekend. And to help us preview those contests, it is a pleasure to welcome our good friend Hal Bent back to the program. Hal covers the Patriots for Scout media, MusketFire.com and Cover32.com. Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01 Other Twitter handles: @MusketFire, @Cover32_NE 1. Does the Rams offense make them a legit playoff contender?? 2. How encouraged should 49ers fans be about the long-term future under the Lynch/Shanahan regime?? 3. Contender or Pretender? • Lions • Falcons • Panthers • Ravens • Steelers • Broncos • Chiefs • Raiders • Would it surprise you if it turns out to be a three-team race for first in the AFC West until the very end? 4. Falcons/Lions • Which
Week 2 of the 2017 NFL season kicked off Thursday night with the Texans knocking off the Bengals 13-9 in a game that was infinitely more boring than the score indicates. Only two games went down to the wire in week 1, but week 2 will hopefully bring more entertaining games. And to help us preview those games, it is a pleasure to welcome our good friend Hal Bent back to the program. Hal covers the Patriots for Scout media, MusketFire.com and Cover32.com.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
Other Twitter handles: @MusketFire, @Cover32_NE
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What did you think of Deshaun Watson’s first NFL start? Can he grow into a pocket passer?
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Is this the final season for Marvin Lewis and Andy Dalton in Cincinnati?
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Patriots/Saints
How much harder will it be for the Pats to stop Brees without Dont’a Hightower? Do you expect the Pats to pepper Brandin Cooks with even more targets than usual given his return to NOLA? What’s the matchup that will decide this game? Who wins and why?
- Eagles/Ch
Week 1 of the 2017 NFL season is officially in the books and many fantasy owners came away disappointed, myself included. However, there’s no need to frown. There is still a ton of football to be played and Sports Krunch is here all season long to help you win a fantasy league championship. Tonight, we begin our Sports Krunch Fantasy Breakdown series, a weekly installment to help you dominate your matchups for Week 2…and beyond. And to provide us all with such world-class advice today, it is a pleasure to welcome Jody Smith to the show for the very first time. Jody is the senior writer for the fantasy football website GridironExperts.com and was also the most accurate fantasy expert in 2012.
Jody’s Twitter Handle: @JodySmithNFL Other handles: @GridironExperts
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Which of these QB’s should QB-needy teams sprint to the waiver wire for this week? Alex Smith, Sam Bradford, or Jared Goff?
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Buy or Sell: Tarik Cohen, Cooper Kupp, Nelson Agholor, Kenny Golladay
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Overreaction/Not Over
NFL football is officially back as the 2017 season kicked off last night with the Chiefs pulling off a remarkable upset victory over the defending-Super Bowl champion Patriots. Today, we will recap that game and preview the rest of the action in what promises to be an exciting opening week in the National Football League with our good friend Hal Bent, who covers the Patriots for Scout media, MusketFire.com and Cover32.com.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
Other Twitter handles: @MusketFire, @Cover32_NE
Does Eric Berry’s season-ending Achilles injury put more pressure on the Chiefs defense or offense? Last night was an off night for the Patriots on both sides of the ball (and I would say defense even more so than offense), but a lot of Twitter was hopping on the “Tom Brady is done” bandwagon. Brady might have shown some signs of age last night, but he also showed he’s far from done (in my opinion). Do you blame his struggles last night more on age, the injuries to Edelman and Amendol
By the time you hear me say those words, we will officially be ONE WEEK AWAY from the kickoff of the 2017 NFL season. But before that, we here at Sports Krunch want to give all you fantasy owners some final pieces of advice to dominate your league as you finalize those draft boards. And to help us do that, it’s a pleasure to welcome back a great friend of the show who’s now the director of fantasy content for ProFootballSpot.com, Jake Arthur!!
Jake’s Twitter Handle: @JakeArthurNFL
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With the Patriots losing Julian Edelman for the season with a torn ACL, Brandin Cooks has been bumped up draft boards, and rightfully so. But after talking with Ari Ingel of Footballguys.com on Twitter about this, he told me to not discount Chris Hogan either. He said that although Cooks is the far more dynamic player, it’s fair to wonder if Hogan ends up out-producing him? How possible is it that Hogan out-produces Cooks? When is the earliest you would draft Chris Hogan?
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Two other Patriots that cou
Just one week from Thursday, the 2017 NFL season kicks off with the Patriots hosting the Chiefs. In that spirit, we would like to start a little tradition here on Sports Krunch…an annual NFL season preview!!! Tonight, we will give you a division-by-division breakdown of the NFL with pressing questions for each team and predict how this 2017 season (the NFL’s 98th) will pan out. And to help us do so, it is a pleasure to welcome back to the program one of the best football minds in the business, Ian Wharton of Bleacher Report.
Before we begin, I want our listeners to know that Ian lives in the great city of Houston, and that our thoughts and prayers continue to be with you and everybody of southeast Texas as you begin the long recovery from Hurricane Harvey. Here is the link to the American Red Cross https://www.redcross.org/donate/hurricane-harvey
Ian’s Twitter Handle: @NFLFilmStudy
AFC East Other teams told Albert Breer (MMQB) that they are not counting on the Edelman’s season-endin
In just 2 days, the 2017 college football season kicks off and that means the work of NFL road scouts will kick into high gear as they look for the building blocks that will take their team to the next level and beyond.
And in that spirit, we bring you the second edition of our initial, way-too-early look at potential 2018 draft prospects. This edition covers where football games are won, the trenches. And we have the perfect guest here tonight to help us break down the OL, DL, and EDGE players that are likely to hear their names called next April. He is Dr. Trenches himself, our good friend Nick Kendell of MileHighHuddle.com.
Nick’s Twitter Handle: @NickKendellMHH
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The top two edge rushers on most boards I’ve seen are Arden Key (LSU) and Harold Landry (Boston College). In addition, both often crack the top ten overall. What are your early impressions of both players? Similarities/differences? Who do you have rated higher and why?
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Another EDGE prospect that was flying under
NFL preseason is officially underway and that means you probably have a fantasy football draft that’s approaching fast. And we have a VERY special guest here today that will help give you an advantage when you enter that draft room.
About five years ago, I joined a fledgling fantasy football website called firststopfantasy.com as a staff writer. The guy in charge of the site at the time was a man named Mike Dente. He taught me how to analyze football from a fantasy perspective and my experience writing for him inspired me to pursue this as a potential career.
Currently, Mike is a featured writer for FantasyPros.com and touchdownfantasyfootball.com and is also the lead DFS contributor NFLSpinZone.com and Fansided.com. And it is a pleasure to welcome back Mike to the program today where he will help us break down some of the recent training camp buzz and what it means for your fantasy draft board.
Mike’s Twitter Handle: @1stStopFantasy Other handles: @FantasyPros, @TouchdownFF, @NF
NFL training camps are winding down and this week, NFL preseason kicks into high gear. In that spirit, we will continue our 2017 NFL team preview series with a look at the team that has been the center of the NFL and sports universe for the past 15+ years, the New England Patriots.
They show absolutely ZERO signs of relinquishing that spot and enter 2017 as the prohibitive favorites to win their sixth Lombardi trophy. Joining us to give us a break down of the Patriots and their sky-high 2017 potential is my good friend Hal Bent. Hal covers the Patriots for Scout media, MusketFire.com and Cover32.com.
Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01
Other Twitter handles: @MusketFire, @Cover32_NE
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Do you think the Patriots can do what the 2007 Patriots failed to do and go 19-0?
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Who do you believe will get most of Ninkovich’s snaps and why?
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Another intriguing position battle for the Patriots that is of concern to fantasy owners everywhere is that of red zone/goal-line running back. Last
An underrated skill to master as a fantasy football player, (and one that will give you a leg up on the competition) is to be able to identify rookie talent and determine the short and long-term impacts these players will have.
Tonight, we have JUST the man here to address the overall fantasy potential of these 2017 rookies. He is Matt Waldman. Aside from being a staff writer for http://www.footballguys.com/, Matt runs his own scouting enterprise known as “Matt Waldman RSP.” Every year, Matt completes a rookie scouting portfolio (RSP) of offensive skill position players that have not only become a bible for the fantasy community, but also for NFL front offices as personnel executives and scouts around the league regularly seek Matt’s opinions on prospects they are interested in.
Another interesting thing to add about Matt is that he and I have quite a bit in common. We’re both as passionate about Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and football as we are about Charlie Parker, John Coltrane,
By this weekend, all 32 NFL teams will be in training camp practicing, and one week from tonight, football finally returns with the Pro Football HOF game between the Cardinals and Cowboys. Thus, there will be no more weeks without a football game from August 3-February 4, 2018. Can you feel it? Football is back, and I also hope you’ve all started working on those fantasy draft boards, since we here at Sports Krunch with DKrom have more information tonight to help you dominate your draft. Tonight’s topic: the 2017 fantasy landscape for WR’s and TE’s. And to help us break it all down, it is a pleasure to welcome Jeff Haseley to the show for the very first time. Jeff is one of the lead writers for footballguys.com. Jeff’s Twitter handle: @JeffHaseley 1. What makes FBG such a unique fantasy football resource and why should people subscribe? 2. Aside from the big three (Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, OBJ), which WR’s are worth drafting in the first round? 3. How comfortable would you be dra
Well, the long wait is over and NFL training camps are officially underway. And that means fantasy football season also begins in earnest as daily camp reports plus preseason observations are crucial factors in finalizing your draft boards. But another factor to consider while setting up those boards is health.
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to http://SportsKrunch.com with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow.
Tonight, we will discuss numerous fantasy-relevant players returning from injury and whether or not it should impact their overall value.
It’s a pleasure to welcome back to the show one of the few people that can help us out in this department, Dr. Jene Bramel of footballguys.com. Jene is one of THE best football injury experts in the country, and his expertise is sought by notable figures such as Adam Schefter and Stephania Bell.
Jene’s Twitter handle: @JeneBramel
- What is your overall interpretation on Ballard’s comments and when is it time to hit the panic
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to http://SportsKrunch.com with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow.
In just a matter of days, NFL teams start reporting and filing in to training camp, and that means if you haven’t started preparing for your fantasy football drafts, you must start doing so NOW.
Meanwhile, we here at Sports Krunch with DKrom will continue to do all we can over the next month and a half to give you the information and tools you need in order to dominate your league in 2017!!
In that spirit, we continue our 2017 Fantasy Football Preview series tonight with a look at the fantasy landscape for quarterbacks. And to help us break it all down, it is a pleasure to welcome Chris Heil back to the program. Chris is the content manager of the award-winning fantasy sports website XNsports.com, co-hosts the “10 to 1 Podcast”, and is a proud member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association.
- I was reading Sports Illustrated’s annual fantasy football edition last nigh
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to http://SportsKrunch.com/ with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow.
Tonight, we continue our 2017 NFL team preview series with a look at the Philadelphia Eagles. And to help us analyze the prospects for the Eagles this season is our good friend Turron Davenport, who covers the team for USA Today’s “The Eagles Wire” and CSN Philly.
Turron’s Twitter handle: @TDavenport_NFL
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I analyzed the Eagles 2017 draft class with a colleague of yours, Emory Hunt on a previous episode, but we didn’t get a chance to take a deeper dive into their day three picks, which impressed me almost as much as their day 1-2 picks. Adam Caplan reported they are VERY high on Mack Hollins, the North Carolina WR who they selected at 118 overall. They think he can eventually grow into a major contributor on offense? Do you have similar expectations for Hollins?
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How much of Donnel Pumphrey can we expect to see this season?
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With their final pick in the draft, the
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to http://SportsKrunch.com/ with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow. Hope you all had a wonderful Independence Day holiday! Three weeks from today, most NFL teams will be fully assembled in training camp ready to bang pads. And you can bet those pads will be popping harder than ever in Jacksonville, where the Jaguars have the potential to be one of THE most physical teams in the NFL. With Grandpa Tom Coughlin back in the building, a high-ceiling defense, and an offense that plans to pound the snot out of the rock with a potential superstar rookie RB, these Jaguars can become another team that makes a lot of noise playing old school football. Keep in mind folks, the Broncos won Super Bowl 50 by playing exactly how the Jags want to play this season. Now to be clear, I’m not suggesting the Jaguars will win Super Bowl LII at all…but the potential is there for them to contend for a playoff spot and become yet another example that traditional, smashmo
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to http://SportsKrunch.com/ with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow.
The NFL is still in the midst of its annual summer slumber, but it’s hard to believe we are officially less than one month away from the start of 2017 NFL training camps. In that spirit, we continue our 2017 NFL team preview series today with a look at the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks are a lesson why NFL stands for “not for long.” In 2013, after blowing out the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII, there was talk of a potential dynasty brewing in Seattle. But after that ill-timed pass at the goal line in Super Bowl XLIX, the Seahawks have spiraled downward and now find themselves at a crossroads. So where do the Seahawks go in 2017 and beyond? Joining us today to give us the answer to that question is one of the few people who actually can. He is Seattle Times Seahawks beat writer Bob Condotta, and it’s a pleasure to welcome him back to the program.
Bob’s Twitter handle: @bcon
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to http://SportsKrunch.com/ with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow.
Well, July is almost here and that means it is almost that time again folks. If you want to dominate your fantasy football leagues in 2017, the time to start studying is now, and we here at Sports Krunch intend to help you get the upper edge on the competition with our annual Fantasy Football Preview series.
We begin that series today with a look at arguably the most important position in the fantasy game, running back. It is a proven fact that the deeper you are at running back, the greater your odds are of taking home the league championship. And to help us break down the 2017 fantasy football RB landscape, it is a pleasure to have on the show for the very first time, one of the best fantasy football analysts out there, Ari Ingel. Ari writes for the renown fantasy football website footballguys.com, hosts his own podcast “The Zig Zag Fantasy Podcast” and is a member of the
Welcome back to http://SportsKrunch.com/ with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow.
Well, 2017 OTA’s and minicamps are in the books and the NFL has officially begun its annual six-week summer slumber until training camp. However, we here at Sports Krunch with DKrom prefer to keep the train rolling with a lot of great content for you until the first team's report for camp. And speaking of teams, tonight we begin our series of individual 2017 team previews. Please note that will try to break down the 2017 prospects of as many teams as we possibly can, but if we do not feature your favorite team, we ask that you do not take any offense given the limited time we have for broadcasting each week and the wide variety of content we intend to put out there. And without further ado, let’s take a look on what’s on the horizon for the Denver Broncos in 2017 and beyond with a great friend of the show, Jake Marsing of 5280 Sports Network.
Jake’s Twitter handle: @JakeDMarsing
- Now let
Well, the month of May is coming to an end, which means the third and final phase of NFL OTA’s has about three more weeks until the league’s annual summer recess. It is right now that rookies are making their first impressions to their coaches and personnel execs. But often, the early spin (usually positive) turns out to be disproven. And that’s why we do our draft recap series on Sports Krunch with DKrom, to give you the most accurate picture possible on a team’s draft class. We continue that series today with a look at the draft classes of the NFC East. To help us break down the draft picks of the Eagles, Redskins, Giants and Cowboys, it is a pleasure to welcome Emory Hunt to the program for the very first time. Emory is one of THE best draft minds out there. He runs the website footballgameplan.com, a fantastic NFL draft resource that gives you one of the most unique, in-depth looks into over 500 prospects each year.
Emory’s Twitter handle: @FBallGameplan
- Derek Barnett’s pr
The third and final phase of NFL OTA’s have commenced.
As we speak, all 32 teams are putting in the remaining on-field work until the league’s annual six-week summer break.
During this time, coaches and players often rave about their rookies to the press…but often, those claims eventually get disproven when the games begin.
We here at Sports Krunch with DKrom enforce our “No Spin” policy 24/7/365, and do our absolute best to help all of you football fans cut through the spin and get to the truth. Today, we are going to get all the truth we can on the 2017 draft classes of the NFC South, the fifth edition of our draft recap series.
And to help us is an extraordinary pleasure to have Charles McDonald back on the program. For those of you that don’t know him, Charles is a world class football analyst that contributes to Bleacher Report, thefalcoholic.com, and is the co-host of the podcast “Setting the Edge”, which I HIGHLY encourage you to check out. Charles’s Twitter handle: @Fou
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow. We are back today with the fourth edition of our NFL draft recap series, a division-by-division breakdown of the 2017 draft classes of all 32 teams. So far, we have delved into the draft hauls of the AFC North, NFC North, and AFC South. Now we shall continue with one of THE most competitive divisions in the NFL, the AFC West. And to help us break down the draft classes of the Chargers, Chiefs, Broncos and Raiders, it is a pleasure to welcome to the show for the very first time, Nick Kendell. Nick writes about the Broncos and the NFL Draft for milehighhuddle.com, which is the Broncos fan page for scout.com. Nick’s Twitter handle: @NickKendellMHH
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What does Mike Williams bring to the Chargers receiving corps that they have been lacking in recent years??
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How do you see the Chargers interior OL shaping out this year? Does Matt Slauson stay at center with Forrest Lamp and Dan Feeney pla
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow. (http://sportskrunch.com/)
As we speak, NFL teams are preparing for the third and final phase of OTA’s, which will give them their first good look at their rookie classes. Thus we here at Sports Krunch with DKrom continue our division-by-division breakdown of every club’s 2017 draft class tonight with the AFC South. Joining us to analyze the drafts of the Jaguars, Titans, Colts and Texans is our good friend Jake Arthur of profootballspot.com. Jake’s Twitter handle: @jakearthurpfs
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For the second straight season, a RB was drafted with the fourth overall pick as the Jaguars went with Leonard Fournette. What kind of season do the Jaguars need from Fournette in order to contend for the playoffs? Does he need to be as good or better than Ezekiel Elliott was last year?
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Can Cam Robinson be the Jaguars left tackle of the future or do you see him as more of a right tackle or guard?
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W
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow. At this very minute, rookies (both drafted and undrafted) on numerous teams around the NFL are filing in to rookie minicamp where they begin to make their case for a job. As they do so, we shall continue our division-by-division recap of the draft classes of all 32 teams and discuss what these rookies bring to the table. Today, we look at the NFC North. And to help us break down the draft classes of the Bears, Vikings, Lions and Packers is our good friend Aaron Leming of bearreport.com.
Aaron’s Twitter handle: @AaronLemingNFL
The Bears made the first of many surprising moves in the draft by trading up from 3 overall to 2 overall to select QB Mitchell Trubisky from North Carolina. Initially, the Bears got ridiculed for the price they paid, but it turns out it wasn’t as high as the capital previous teams have surrendered to move from 3 to 2. However, criticism remains. Multiple reports su
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow. We are back after a deserved week off because I personally needed some rest after that WILD roller coaster ride that was the 2017 NFL Draft. And now it is time to recap the draft classes of all 32 teams division-by-division and assess the potential they bring going forward. We start tonight with the AFC North, where we saw some of this year’s best drafts at least on paper in my opinion. And to help us break down the draft classes of the Browns, Bengals, Ravens, and Steelers is our good friend Pete Smith of draftbreakdown.com and NFLSpinZone.com.
Pete’s Twitter handle: @_PeteSmith_
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The Browns drafted Jabrill Peppers, apparently, to play a hybrid S/LB role. However, others such as former NFL front office executive Michael Lombardi prefer him at RB. At which position would you like to see the Browns utilize Peppers the most?
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The Browns were super loaded with ammo, that they were ab
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow.
Well, Spring Football Christmas is upon us!! By the time you hear this, we will be slightly over 24 hours away from the 2017 NFL Draft. This past month or so, we here at Sports Krunch have broken down every group of prospects by position for you, and now all 32 teams have their big boards set for what promises to be one of the wildest, most unpredictable drafts in recent memory.
And to get you ready for the wild ride, we’re going to do a simulated mock draft. What that means is that this mock will try to give you an idea what goes on in every war room when a club is on the clock. Scouts, personnel directors and coaches lobby the owner and GM to draft somebody by ‘pounding the table’ and the owner and GM have the power to accept or reject those demands. In this mock, I will be playing the role of the scouts and coaches, and our good friend Shelby Dermer will play the role of the owner
(4 more days!) Hello again everybody, and welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow. The clock is ticking fast folks. By the time you hear this, we will actually be THREE days away from the 2017 NFL Draft. And tonight, we cover our final group of 2017 draft prospects…the prospects who play the most important position in sports: quarterback. And to help us analyze the quarterbacks that are on the minds of many NFL teams right now, it is a pleasure to welcome to the program for the very first time, Aaron Leming. Aaron is an NFL insider who covers the Chicago Bears for bearreport.com. Aaron’s Twitter handle: @AaronLemingNFL
- Former NFL scouting director Greg Gabriel, who writes for Pro Football Weekly and is a regular voice on 670 The Score in Chicago tweeted over a week ago that he spoke with three former GM’s who remain in the loop. Each one believes 6-7 quarterbacks will go in the first two rounds. Do you share that sentiment based on what you are hearin
(One more week!) Hello again everybody, and welcome back to http://sportskrunch.com/ with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow. We are now officially less than one week away from the 2017 NFL Draft. And we here at Sports Krunch with DKrom plan to cover our final two groups of prospects by position for you this week. Tonight, we break down this 2017 crop of running back prospects. As I’ve said many times on this program, this RB class is arguably the deepest in quite a while, and has the potential to be historically elite. And finally to analyze these special players for us, it is a pleasure to welcome to the show for the very first time Bill Carroll. Bill writes for http://proplayerinsiders.com/, http://fanspeak.com/, and http://nutsandboltssports.com/. He also is the director of his own scouting service, Consensus Draft Services. It’s great to have you here Bill, how are you doing?
- The consensus amongst those in the know is that two RB’s will go in the first round: Leonard Fournet
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow. http://sportskrunch.com/
The sports world will descend on the City of Brotherly Love for the 2017 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, these next 22 days will consist of an eternity of lies and smokescreens about certain prospects and their links to certain teams.
And that’s why we at Sports Krunch with DKrom are here to help show you whether you should buy the hype or not on certain prospects with our draft preview series. Today, in our fourth edition of this series, we look into the 2017 Linebacker class.
And to break down these exciting prospects, it’s a pleasure to welcome back to the show my good friend Pete Smith https://twitter.com/_petesmith_ of http://draftbreakdown.com/.
- Two LB’s are widely expected to go in the first round: Reuben Foster and Haason Reddick. Of those two, who would you draft first and why? Who do you believe is the first LB off the board? Any other LB’s you see goin
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow.
Three weeks from tomorrow night, the sports world will descend on the City of Brotherly Love for the 2017 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, these next 21 days will consist of an eternity of lies and smokescreens about certain prospects and their links to certain teams.
And that’s why Sports Krunch with DKrom is here to help show you whether you should buy the hype or not on certain prospects with our draft preview series. Today, in our third edition of this series, we look into the WR and TE classes. And to break down these pass-catching prospects, it’s a pleasure to welcome back to the show my good friend Jake Arthur https://twitter.com/jakearthurpfs of http://profootballspot.com/.
- Three WR’s are expected to go in round one (Mike Williams, Corey Davis, John Ross). Do you share those expectations and are there any other WR’s you see going in the first round? Which teams should prioritize dra
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to http://SportsKrunch.com/ with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow https://twitter.com/dkrom59
Well, we are now less than a month away from the 2017 NFL Draft, and we are back today with the second edition of our draft preview series.
Last week, we broke down the OL, DL, and pass rush prospects with Charles McDonald of Bleacher Report. Today, we will break down this year’s crop of DB prospects, and this bunch is arguably the deepest group in the 2017 draft.
And to help us break it all down today is our good friend Chris Trapasso https://twitter.com/ChrisTrapasso. Chris has been on the program several times before and is the editor of the SB Nation Buffalo Bills fan page http://www.buffalorumblings.com/ and is also the http://www.nfl.com/ homepage editor. Chris also wrote for CBS Sports and FOX Sports.
- Let’s start with the safety class. The two biggest names are LSU’s Jamal Adams and Ohio State’s Malik Hooker, both expected to be top-1
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to Sports Krunch (http://sportskrunch.com/) with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow.
Well, we are just over five weeks away from the 2017 NFL Draft, and the objective here at Sports Krunch with DKrom from now until draft day is to give you all an in-depth look, position by position, at this deep draft class. And we start today with where the game of football begins, up front in the trenches, with the OL, DL, and EDGE prospects. And to help break it all down is our AMAZING guest for today, Charles McDonald https://twitter.com/FourVerts
Charles writes for the SB Nation Atlanta Falcons fan website, http://www.thefalcoholic.com/, and also scouts every DT in the NFL for Bleacher Report’s weekly NFL 1000 series during the regular season. And last but not least, he co-hosts the podcast “Setting Edge” http://settingedge.com/ with fellow DL/EDGE guru Justis Mosqueda, another previous guest of the program. His resume obviously speaks for itself.
- Le
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow. The first wave of NFL free agency came and went in a flash, and now all teams are taking a step back to assess their situations as the 2017 NFL Draft. That said, that flash contained countless points of light that clarified many of the unknowns headed into free agency, yet also left a major mystery still unsolved. Joining us to break down the wild week that was in the NFL is our good friend Shelby Dermer, sports editor for Speakeasy Magazine at THE Ohio University. It’s a pleasure to have you back with us yet again, Shelby. How are you doing??
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If Tony Romo is released, where should he go? What teams aside from the Texans and Broncos should inquire about trading for him? What would be your asking price if you were Jerry Jones and the Cowboys front office??
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Based on the Patriots acquisitions last week, is the NFL basically the Patriots and everybody else now? What team, on paper, c
http://sportskrunch.com/ Hello again everybody, and welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom. The NFL’s “legal tampering window” is now officially opened, creating the beginning of what will be a WILD next 48 hours in the National Football League as free agency and the 2017 league year officially began Thursday afternoon. And to break down all the latest scoops before the witching hour is our good friend, NFL insider Jake Marsing of 5280 Sports Network in Denver. Welcome back Jake!!!!!
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What is the latest you’re hearing on the Tony Romo situation?? Do you expect him to be released on Thursday?? Where do you see him ending up??
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How you see the RB market shaping out, particularly AP (Raiders or Seahawks), LeGarrette Blount, and Jamaal Charles, Eddie Lacy, Latavius Murray?? When do you expect the first of those dominoes to fall?? Which teams can
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Answer the same basic question about the OL market (Whitworth, Okung, Fluker, Wagner, Zeitler, Lang, Leary, Clady)
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Same question a
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow. Well, the 2017 NFL calendar year is almost upon us. This week, the entire league takes over Indianapolis for the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine, and today alone, a flurry of franchise tags and contract extensions have gotten done as the NFL prepares for the start of free agency a week from Thursday at 4 PM ET. To help us break all of this down, we are thrilled to welcome our good friend Pete Smith back to the program. Pete contributes to the fantastic website http://draftbreakdown.com/ and also writes for http://nflspinzone.com/.
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Do you foresee an acrimonious negotiation between Le’Veon Bell and the Pittsburgh Steelers?
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How should the franchise tag be amended in the next CBA?
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What do you see the Browns doing with the first overall pick?? Myles Garrett?? QB?? Trade down??
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Do you think the Browns win the Jimmy Garoppolo sweepstakes?? If they don’t, do they take a QB in round one
Today’s guest is Benjamin Albright. He is an expert on the NFL Draft, QBs. A frequent contributor to As seen on Yahoo! Fox Sports, ESPN. And is the co-host on AM1340, 104.7 FM Denver/Boulder. You can find him at https://twitter.com/allbrightnfl
Benjamin and DKROM discuss where the most desired free agents end up.
1:00 Who gets the franchise tag? 3:30 Do you see Tayvon Jones getting a deal done? 5:30 Where do you see Jimmy Garoppolo/Tony Romo/Tyrod Taylor/Jay Cutler landing? 12:00 Where is the most likely destination for Alshon Jeffrey/Melvin Ingram/Calais Campbell//Jason Pierre Paul/AJ Bouye 14:00 Do you see Tim Hightower and Martellus Bennet staying in New England? 16:30 Does Cleveland keep Terrell Pryor?
DKROM and his guest Shelby Dermer discuss all the biggest topics surrounding the NFL this week. Shelby Dermer is the Sports Editor at @speakeasymag (https://speakeasyohiou.com/), Bengals' reporter for @StripeHype (http://stripehype.com/) and http://RiverfrontGrumble.com . You can find him at http://twitter.com/scdermer4
1:00 Which position groups have the strongest and weakest depth in this year’s draft class? 4:00 How many running back’s do you see getting selected in the first round? 6:30 What makes you think Cam Robinson will be a first round pick? 8:00 Which teams do you see reaching for a quarterback in round 1? 10:30 How many qb’s go off board in the first round? Where do you see offensive tackles falling in the first round? 12:30 Give us a list of names of who to watch at the combine 15:00 What is your view on Stanford defensive end Salomon Thomas? 17:00 How many prospects have earned a first round grade at this time? 19:30 What drill is the most important to watch at the com
The Super Bowl has come and gone and wow what a show! DKROM and his guest Shelby Dermer discuss all the biggest topics from this weekend's spectacular Super Bowl.
Shelby Dermer who is the Sports Editor at @speakeasymag (https://speakeasyohiou.com/), Bengals' reporter for @StripeHype (http://stripehype.com/) and http://RiverfrontGrumble.com . You can find him at http://twitter.com/scdermer4
1:30 Was this the best Super Bowl of all time?
4:00 Did the Patriots win or did the Falcons choke?
7:30 Did injuries contribute to the Falcons late game play calling?
12:30 Is Tom Brady the best football player of all time regardless of position?
15:30 How many more years does Tom Brady have left in him?
19:30 How much does Tom Brady’s body maintenance and diet contribute to his longevity?
21:00 What was the most important play of the game?
23:00 Who is the unsung hero of the Super Bowl that helped put the Patriots over the top?
28:30 Asides from Shanahan’s play calling who cost the Falcons
The Super Bowl is less than a week away and to celebrate DKROM talked with Shelby Dermer who is the Sports Editor at @speakeasymag (https://speakeasyohiou.com/), Bengals' reporter for @StripeHype (http://stripehype.com/) and http://RiverfrontGrumble.com . You can find him at @scdermer4
1:00 What makes this matchup so intriguing? 3:00 Neither defense on paper will scare you 3:30 How have the Patriots been able to stay so efficient on defense? 7:00 Key to containing the Falcons offense? 11:00 Is Atlanta’s offense the greatest test Belichick has ever faced in a Super Bowl? 12:30 What are the other factors that loom large in this game? 15:00 What individual matchups will you be watching? 17:00 Who are some under the radar potential Super Bowl MVP’s? 22:00 Any potential Super Bowl MVP candidates on the Falcons not named Matt Ryan? 25:00 What is the biggest pregame story line headed into this game? 30:00 How big is the divide between the players and owners? 32:00 Can sports help to re-un
Today’s show features a very special guest and great friend of the program Jake Marsing @JakeDMarsing - A rising star reporter in the Denver area who covers both the Broncos and the Nuggets for the 5280 Sports Network. He also contributes to the Vic Lombardi show on the radio station Altitude 950. 2:00 What stood out to you the most on this underwhelming Wildcard weekend? 3:00 Seattle Seahawks facing the Atlanta Falcons - Do you see a high scoring game coming in this matchup? 8:00 Houston Texans vs New England Patriots - What will be needed for the Texans to pull off the upset of the century here? 11:00 Jadeveon Clowney is incredibly impressive. How much better would this Texans defense be with J.J. Watt healthy? 13:00 Pittsburgh steelers heading to the Kansas City Chiefs - Ben Roethlisberger wearing a walking a boot. Did Roethlisberger shed the boot this morning? Does Ben play up injuries or let everyone know what a tough player he is? 15:00 Does Jake stand by his pre-season pick
Hello again everybody, and welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom, I’m your host David Kromelow. At the end of tonight, there will be only three weeks remaining in the 2016 NFL season, and a wide open race toward Super Bowl LI just got even more wide open after the Giants put a stop to the Cowboys 11-game winning streak last night. Thus, there are still a lot of uncertainties when it comes to the playoff picture, and to help us sort it all out, we are pleased to welcome back a good friend of the program, Chris Trapasso. Chris is the editor of the SB Nation Buffalo Bills fan page buffalorumblings.com and is also the NFL.com homepage editor. Chris also wrote for CBS Sports and FOX Sports, and it is a pleasure to welcome him back to the show!
1:30 What went wrong for Dak Prescott last night against the Giants? 5:30 Would Dak Prescott be as good on a team with a bad offensive line like the Broncos? 7:15 If Dak struggles against the Bucs in week 15 should the Cowboys consider going bac
Welcome to the SportsKrunch with your host DKROM. DKROM is a Sportswriter & sportscaster. Host of Sports Krunch With DKROM. Football junkie and old-school music lover. #GoBroncos Today’s guest is the man in the box himself Chris Brodhead. 1:05 Rob Gronkowski and Earl Thomas season-ending injuries, which one hurts his team more?? 9:05 If David were a manager today would he focus his best draft pics on elite Offensive Linemen? 16:00 Preview of Thursday night's game between the Raiders and Chiefs. Should Derek Carr be league MVP?? 19:30 Is Jameis the next Eli Manning? 24:30 Can the Chiefs be this year's version of the 2015 Broncos?? 29:00 AFC South breakdown. Could be a three-way tie at the top of division if Colts beat Jets on MNF. Who wins the division?? 33:45 Who is the clear favorite to win Super Bowl LI as of this moment?? Is there even one? I'm not so sure