NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero, Judy Battista, and Mike Garafolo discuss the biggest stories from around the NFL including Aaron Rodgers meeting with Steelers today and how this impacts Russell Wilson. Plus, Justin Fields discusses his signing with the Jets; defensive tackle Milton Williams talks signing a $100 million dollar contract with the Patriots; prospect Jayden Higgins discusses his path to the draft; and Jeff Chadiha goes one on one with top defensive tackle prospect Mason Graham and tight end Colston Loveland following Michigan’s pro day. Adam Rank asks what the Cowboys, Steelers & Texans were thinking in free agency. Omar Ruiz reports on how the Cardinals will utilize Kyler Murray in 2025 and the development of Panthers quarterback Bryce Young.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
This just in.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
We officially have an Aaron Rodgers signing. Excuse me, I
misread that we officially have an Aaron Rodgers sighting in Pittsburgh,
where he spent the day getting to know the Steelers.
But will he actually don the black and yellow? We
will tell you the latest. Russe Wilson is also on
Rogers Watch, mainly because Wilson's own future may depend on
(00:30):
the four time NFL MVP's destination. There is one team
Russ could choose to go to any time, though, depending
if he wants to live dangerously. Cowboys are in their
comfort zone. By that I mean watching everybody else make
big moves. Our guy Adam Rank has some thoughts on
the NFL offseason's most puzzling transactions or lack thereof, as
(00:55):
he joins the only relevant sports programming on TV tonight,
Welcome in s with the Insiders alongside Judy Batista and
Mike Garafalo. I am Tom Pelisero. It has actually been
a very packed week for us of quarterback drama, shockingly
surrounding the destination of one Aaron Rodgers. But a key
(01:17):
development today we have proof of life. Because that's right.
Aaron Rodgers was meeting with these Steelers. This is the
first known visit for Aaron Rodgers. It sounds like it
came together relatively last minute. He spent a lot of
time today with the coaches in person for the first time.
My understanding is the contract parameters have actually been in
(01:38):
place four weeks. This is not a money thing. They
didn't talk money today. They just forgetting to know each other.
The Giants mic are still in the mix here. But
this decision as it has been is clearly in Rogers hands.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Yeah, this is part of the process for Aaron, right.
It's been a process, right, And everything seems to be
a process when it comes to Aaron Rodgers and making
his decisions on future lately, going back to his time
deciding on whether he wanted to be with the Jets
and the whole Darkness retreat and taking his time there,
and he actually changed his mind during that whole process.
He went in expecting to retire and came out saying, no,
(02:13):
I want to go play for the Jets.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
So whatever he was feeling.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
At the beginning of this, if he's changed it, if
today changed it, if today moved the needle at all
for him, wouldn't be surprised to me as the kind
of guy that seems to be open to feedback, whether
it's internal where whether it's the feedback he receives from
the people he's talking to, or whether it comes from
another dimension, I don't know. But the point is that
Aaron Rodgers has made it clear he is going to
(02:36):
take his time with this. So when we got word
today that he was in the facility, I still didn't
think that something was immediately going down because I knew,
based on what we have been told, that this was
going to be a bit of a longer process.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Now the Giants are still in the mix.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
At what point will he give the Giants a chance
to potentially talk to them?
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Will he period?
Speaker 3 (02:54):
We shall see as this moves along, But for now,
Judy just collecting information and getting into the facil and
meeting people face to face now that he knows also by.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
The way, that the Vikings are out of it at
least for now.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
Well, that's the piece that I think makes this the
most interesting is that this visit took place just days
after the Vikings made it publicly clear that they were
not going to move forward pursuing Aaron Rodgerson At least
not right now. So the timetable is what made this interesting.
But this strikes me as just more information gathering for him,
(03:26):
and as you pointed out, like he has done this
in the past when he has made decisions, ready gathers
information than he sort of goes home or goes to
wherever and continues to mull it over. As we have
been saying now for several weeks, it's not a matter
of the money. The contract parameters have been on the
table all along. So if he were prepared to accept
(03:47):
an offer that could happen very quickly and move forward immediately.
That's not where we are though yet. He's not there yet.
He's still in the get to know you phase. Let's
talk about what we could maybe do together. How do
you see the franchise moving forward? That's the phase he's in,
and that to me sounds like it is still quite
a ways from making a decision.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Now.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
We'll see again if he sits down with the Giants
in person as he did with the Steelers. But I
think this is just another part of the Aaron Rodgers process.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
And it is a very very deliberate one.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Meanwhile, Russell Wilson is continuing to wait, in part because
he is a fallback option of sorts for at least
the Giants, potentially the Steelers. Nothing shocks me anymore. I'd
be surprised if he ends up back in Pittsburgh based
on the fact that they've pursued Justin Fields to try
to get him back, then pursuing Aaron Rodgers. Russell Wilson
no better than the third choice there, but does seem
(04:43):
like he's a real option potentially to spending on how
things play out with the Giants, and also a real
option for the Cleveland Browns, a team that at this
point is not pursuing other veteran quarterbacks, but have had
a visit with Russ who this is his daily dose
right here. I don't know if he gets these from
a book, he comes up with them himself, but he
(05:04):
is relentless. It is social media posts today. It was
relentless confidence. Don't ever stop believing in you, which is
good advice, Judy Whn Just to be quite honest, not
a shot at Russ, but a lot of people have
lost confidence in Russell Wilson coaching staffs, organizations over the
past four years. This is not Russell Wilson calling the shots,
(05:24):
but he does have an opportunity here, depending on things
that play out with Rogers, to potentially be the next
big domino.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
That falls no question.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
I mean, the fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers lost confidence
and Russ is why we are all in this situation
right now waiting for Aaron Rodgers if they wanted Russ back.
He made it clear on the last day of the
Steelers season that he very much wanted to be back
with the Steelers. Certainly that seems like a very long
shot now to me. The X factor here is does
he want to be the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns
(05:53):
because that offer, that opportunity appears to be out there
and he doesn't have to wait for anybody else to
make up his mind. I mean, if he said wakes
up tomorrow and says, you know what, I want to
be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, that again
seems to be something that could come very quickly. The
fact that it has not happened suggests that he has
other things in mind as well, and he is going
(06:14):
to wait and is willing to wait at least for
a little while longer on Aaron Rodgers to make his decision,
watch where that domino goes, and then Russell will react accordingly.
The New York Giants are still out there if they've
talked to Russell Wilson as well. All these dominoes have
been standing for a few weeks now still to fall.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
I think somewhere Russell Wilson is hoping that Aaron Rodgers
goes to the Steelers, which would open New York, because
I just go back to a couple of years and
the rumblings were strong to the point where some folks.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Were saying it was going to happen.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
It never did happen, But Russell Wilson to the Giants
has been rumored and rumbled about for a couple of
years now because the New York market, obviously with his
wife Sierra and her side of the business basically in
New York, would be a good thing for her, and
the bright lights of the city a good thing for
him as well, something that he would be attracted. He
(07:07):
never shies away from the spotlight and he would love
the spotlight of New York.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
So I think the fact that he hasn't taken that
offer Judy from the Browns that you're talking about. If
I had to rank them.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
And I don't know this to be one hundred percent true,
but I feel pretty good about it.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
I think he wants to get to the Giants.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
I really do.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
He's the one that initiated the visit with the Giants
last year. They had Daniel Jones at the time, but
he wanted to meet with them. They said, Okay, come
on and you can be with us. This time around.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
It's a little bit different because they're in much more
desperate need of a quarterback at this point. But Russell
Wilson to New York I think is something that he's
always sort of wanted, at least on the back burner
in the back of his mind, could potentially happen at
this point.
Speaker 6 (07:45):
We'll see.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
I can't remember another quarterback situation like what Pittsburgh has
where Russell Wilson, once he got healthy last year, started,
he finished the season as a starter, they went to
the playoffs. He'll be a limping into the playoffs and
losing in their first game. But the Steelers have brought
back the guy that they let go to Tennessee, Mason Rudolph,
in order to bring Russell Wilson in. They also have
tried to pursue and bring back Justin Fields, the guy
(08:09):
they benched have Russell Wilson in the lineup. Somehow, Russell
Wilson continues to fall in terms of their options. Justin
Fields has a new team and of course is the
New York Jets. He signed that two year, forty million
dollar contract including thirty million guaranteed. Now a top the
depth jerk for a new regime with Aaron Glennon Company
in New York. He sat down with the Jets team
reporter Ethan Greenberg coach Glinn.
Speaker 7 (08:32):
You know, I've played against him early in my career.
You know, I know how passionate he is about the game.
You know, just the way he coaches, you know the
way his players play. So I think that was, you know,
the biggest thing for me, and just the opportunity, the
fans of course, the city and you know when you
win here, there's there's no better place to win. Yeah,
all those all those characteristics, all those reasons are you know,
(08:55):
ultimately the reason I ended up here.
Speaker 8 (08:57):
So you know, last year for you, statistically your best
year as a passer.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Do you feel like you're coming into your own a
little bit now?
Speaker 7 (09:03):
Yeah, not for sure, and I know for myself, I
definitely have some untapped potential that I haven't reached yet.
But I'm hoping to get there this year, and I'm
hoping to put it on display for everybody to see.
Speaker 8 (09:14):
To play against a guy like Aaron lenn for multiple
years when you were with the Bears, he with the Lions,
for him to want to have you here in his
first year as a head coach, what does that mean
to you?
Speaker 7 (09:23):
Yeah, I mean it means a lot, you know, of course,
you know our relationship, you know, playing against each other,
like you said, it means a lot, you know, because
you know, just Detroit, they've had, of course, a lot
of success in the past couple of years. So for
him to want me here is is definitely an honor.
And of course I'm going to, you know, put it
all out on the line for him and do all
I can to you know, help this scene be successful.
Speaker 8 (09:43):
So and how nice is it for you to reunite
with a couple of former Buck guys, including Josh Meyers
most recently.
Speaker 7 (09:49):
Yes, Yeah, my guy Josh called me yesterday and you
know said he was planning on you know, signing here.
So once I heard that news, I was definitely exciting,
and you know, Rouck and Gett texting me too.
Speaker 9 (09:59):
So to be back with some of our buck guys
for sure.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
From an Ohio State man to the school that hasn't
lost to Ohio State since Fields left Michigan. They held
their pro day in ann Arbor earlier today. A lot
of top prospects, including some that you've seen a top
Daniel Jeremiah's list of the top fifty players in this
year's and FL Draft. Were just thirty three days away
from that draft. You could have as many as four
(10:25):
names of Michigan men called on night one in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
One who is a very good bet, Mason Graham, who
sat down with our Jeffrey Chidin.
Speaker 9 (10:36):
We're here with Mason Graham and you put in some
time here doing positional drills. You didn't work out the
full workout, but you put in positional drills. How did
they go for you?
Speaker 10 (10:44):
I feel like it went good. You know, just good
to get out here on the field again. Haven't been
on this field in a while, so it's good, you know,
being in a familiar place and you know, just working
out with some of the teammates.
Speaker 9 (10:53):
Yeah, I know, you guys have been bouncing around doing
interviews and comment all this stuff. How has the pre
draft process been for you?
Speaker 6 (10:58):
It's been good.
Speaker 10 (10:59):
Obviously it's like a long process, but you know, it
is what it is. You know, meeting staffs, you know, teams, coaches,
just getting to know them and you know, see what
the future holds.
Speaker 9 (11:08):
And you're pretty much considered a top ten, top five pick.
So I imagine you've got a lot of people who
want to talk to you over the next twenty four
hours for eight hours, how many teams have you spoken
to since pro day started?
Speaker 10 (11:20):
I had like four or five meetings here at the facility,
and I had like three dinners, so I'm met with
quite a few people, and then I have a lunch
after this, so I met with quite a few teams,
and I'm met with like twenty teams at the combine,
So almost hit everyone.
Speaker 9 (11:33):
And so I know combine is like fifteen minutes of talking. Here,
you get more time, Like, how do you handle some
of that being on and being ready to answer all
these questions?
Speaker 10 (11:41):
You have more time, longer dinners. Yeah, I just feel like,
you know, it might get repetitive at times. You know
that teams are asking the same questions, just trying to
get to know you, but you know, just being honest, truthful,
you know, just being yourself at the end of the day.
Speaker 6 (11:53):
Yeah, I feel like that's what's best.
Speaker 9 (11:55):
Great and finally again, impact player projected top five, top
ten pick. What are you going to bring to an
NFL time?
Speaker 10 (12:01):
I feel like I'm, you know, one of the most
elite defenders in this draft or overall too. I feel
like I played the run in pass at a high level,
so I feel like that's kind of what makes me
different compared to you know, other people.
Speaker 9 (12:13):
Okay, well, hey man, good luck to you and congratulations.
I know you're gonna have a great career. I appreciate
you doing this.
Speaker 6 (12:17):
I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Pro Day's rolling on next one up. It's a big
one on Monday, Miami Pro Day and Cam wore the
potential number one overall pick. You can catch it live Monday,
four thirty pm Eastern Time right here on NFL Network
and NFL Plus. Coming up on this show, Adam Rank
is going to be here. Rank never short on opinions.
(12:43):
He's got some thoughts about some of the activity or
lack thero of we've seen around the NFL, including who
exactly is Dak Prescott throwing the football too? In twenty
twenty five, r Ank will break it down. But after this,
we've got one of the biggest science in free agency. Literally,
big check for big man Milton Williams, the one hundred
four million dollar man of the New England Patriots. How
(13:05):
close was he to going elsewhere? What's his role gonna
look like in New England? Milton Williams with us. Next
stick around, it's the insiders.
Speaker 11 (13:25):
Maho his buck Mahomes looking, are you looking?
Speaker 2 (13:29):
He is grown Knock Golton.
Speaker 12 (13:34):
This offensive line of the Kansas City teams's lout can
rock the Eagles pressure.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
When you make plays like that on football's biggest stage,
you get to sign contracts like this one hundred or
four million dollars from the Patriots to that guy Milton Williams,
who now takes a moment to join us right here
on the Insiders, Tom Pellicero and Judy Battista. You're one
of the stars of a Super Bowl, Shelacke to the
Chief Smelton. You get this big contract. Well, what's life like?
(14:03):
Is Milton Williams right now?
Speaker 6 (14:06):
It's crazy, It's crazy.
Speaker 12 (14:08):
Really, if you go back in a year, a year
from now and tell me that you know you're gonna
win the Super Bowl, you're finda signed a.
Speaker 6 (14:17):
Hundred million dollar contracts somewhere, I would have been like,
stop lying.
Speaker 12 (14:21):
But I mean, I mean you were, you work your
whole life for something, you finally, you know, start achieving
some of the goals. It's like, it's just it don't
seem real because it's like, I mean, that was just
one game. Obviously it was a big moment that being
in the Super Bowl, but it was one game, and
you know, I feel like I played the best I
(14:43):
could play on that stage. So you know, that's that's
what comes with that. So now it's been a lot
of fun, been a lot of a lot of happy tears,
you know, with my family. It's just been great. Man,
it's been great.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
All Right, you signed a big deal with the New
England Patriots.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
What has it been like?
Speaker 4 (15:02):
What are the conversations been like with Mike Rabel and
the other folks around the Patriots about what to expect.
Speaker 6 (15:09):
No, just it was good. You know, they welcomed me
in with open arms. I just came back from a
visit up there last week.
Speaker 12 (15:16):
Last weekend, signed my contract, you know, getting to the staff,
get a tour the building, and now it's gonna be cool.
Speaker 6 (15:24):
It's gonna be cool. Coach Rabel.
Speaker 12 (15:28):
Was just preaching to me about how they're gonna use
me and that type of in his defense and how
he won't He wanted a guy every level of the
defense for free agency.
Speaker 6 (15:37):
You know, he want us to come in and try
to change the culture.
Speaker 12 (15:40):
Around that's been going on in New England the past
couple of years, and I definitely think he picked the
right guys for that.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Well, take me back to that first day of free agency,
and this is a show called The Insiders, right, it's
all about the news and the information. We were going
wall to wall with free agency frenzy and we were
dealing with them for about an hour there on that
first day of free agency, with reports that you were
close to signing with the Panthers. They're working to finalize
the deal. There's breaking newscrapts. You can still find them,
Mill Williams with a Panther's uniform on what actually happened,
(16:11):
what was going on behind the scenes in that hour,
Were you ever actually close to light in someplace under than.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
New England actually my agent. They were all on the fall.
I was just kind of in the room.
Speaker 12 (16:22):
They were on the phone talking and teams are coming
in with new deals at the new deals and it
was a lot going on. It happened really fast. He
told me about Carolina deal and I was like, all right, well.
Speaker 6 (16:34):
That's only the best offer we're gonna get, so we're
gonna go there.
Speaker 12 (16:37):
But then I guess a split second later in New
England like hopped on was like, nah right, all right,
this is what we got for you. And yeah, Carolina,
they felt like they went too high on their number,
so they stayed where they was at and New England
came in and you know, that was it.
Speaker 6 (16:55):
After day, you know, they showed they wanted me the
most and made me a priority. So made them a priority.
Speaker 11 (17:02):
All right.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
We know that Rabel told you, we hope you're ready
to play even more than you're played in Philadelphia. He
wants you on the field a lot more. What are
you going to do to get ready for a much
heavier workload than you had.
Speaker 12 (17:15):
I'm gonna just do it, do what I always done,
you know, just all I just put it in the work,
just extra conditioning, boxing, you know, running, you know, trying
to make sure I'm eating right, eating cleaner, getting right
around to sleep, you know, everything anything I can do
in my power. You know, I'm trying to do whatever
I can to make sure that I'm fully functioning and
(17:38):
able to provide for my team when.
Speaker 6 (17:41):
They need you to.
Speaker 12 (17:41):
So you know, I'm all ears for any suggestions on
what i should do, But if anything else, I'm gonna do.
Speaker 6 (17:50):
You know what I've been doing my whole life to
get to this point.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
So when you get paid the way that you did,
when you're the big splash Preegen signing, there's a level
of leadership that to expected there too, right in terms of, hey,
our best players are highest paid players, got to be
the ones that drive this culture. And it's been a while.
It's been four or five years since the Patriots were
really winning at the same level that they did for
all those years with Tom Brady. So what of the
proactive things, if any, that you intend to do to
(18:16):
kind of try to set the tone and make sure
not just Milton Williams playing well, but this entire Patriots
team gets ahead of the right direction.
Speaker 12 (18:23):
Just coming to work every day, I'm not I'm not
a speech kind of guy. I just I kind of
try to lead by example, to show up and do
what they asked me. Was they paying us a lot
of money to play play a child's game, So you know,
show up, do to work, do extra work.
Speaker 6 (18:42):
So I mean, when it's time, when the lights come on,
you're ready for it.
Speaker 12 (18:45):
But yeah, you know, I'm just ready for ready for
the opportunity to show more of what I can do
as a player.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
When you were in Philadelphia, the defense over the years
had some ups and downs. Right twenty twenty three it
took a dip, and then obviously last season was the
best defense in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
What can you take from that experience and what you
guys did.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
With the Eagles last season that maybe you can apply
in New England where they are trying to get back
to the defensive tradition they had for so many years.
Speaker 12 (19:21):
Just then togetherness as a defense and as a team.
You know, there's a long season. I think we end
up playing twenty one or twenty two games. We had
an early bye week, so we went straight through. So
I mean, you're gonna need your brothers to you know,
one day you may and I feel like you're gonna
need somebody to pick you up, and vice versa. So
(19:43):
every day, you know, just coming in, you know, put
it on the line for your brother. Once you get
in the game. You know, of course we all want
to make plays, we all want headlines and stuff like that.
But at the end of the day, whoever make the play,
they don't make the play longer we win the game.
That should be the main objective. So you know, I'm
(20:03):
doing whatever I can to make plays for me or
make plays for others. Whoever, you just make the play,
get them stop, Let's get our offensive ball and try
to put us some more points and shoot.
Speaker 6 (20:15):
That's how we want. You know, we count on each other.
We played off each other.
Speaker 12 (20:18):
We we challenged each other every day at practice, and
they challenged us of the Super Bowl week, knowing that
we could be able to take advantage of our matchups
up front. And you know, Mahomes is a great quarterback,
so we had to be all all ready to go
and try to stop him for sure.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
The last thing for you, you know, at anytime that
a guy signs a big contract, I think that there's
certain things maybe they want to take care of it
in their life. You're on with us right now. We
kept sign the contract or in a plan T shirt.
You got no jewelry, there's nothing flashing behind you. You didn't,
you know, buy a million dollar painting or something. Is
there one thing you want? One thing that Milton Williams
has always wanted? And now you're like, all right, I
(21:00):
can get this now.
Speaker 12 (21:04):
Everything pretty much morning so far I hadn't already got.
So I'm kind of just like, take care of my
take care of my family, of course, you know, take
care of my mom my, pops. You know, they did
a lot for me to get into this situation. My sisters,
you know, they've been with me every step of the way.
They know everything that is going on behind the scenes.
(21:24):
You know, I wouldn't be here without them. So whatever
they need for me, am, I make sure I'm there
for them, just like they work for me. And you
know they're gonna be with me on this journey every
step of the way.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
And you say that again, man on everything, Yeah, go ahead?
Speaker 6 (21:39):
One thing?
Speaker 12 (21:40):
Yeah, yeah, bad? I think I answer it. I ain't really,
I mean, it ain't nothing that really walk I'm getting.
I'm getting the house for sure, probably get mom's the house. Now,
and she ain't gonna let me leave it down if
I don't do that. So we're gon we're gonna.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Figure out way, enjoy every second of it. Building earned it.
Speaker 13 (22:00):
Man.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Congratulations, don't you come back on the show another time?
Speaker 6 (22:03):
Yes, sir, I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
I have Google our top store. Today Aaron Rodgers was
in the Steelers facility, the first visit of Rogers voyage
into free agency. The Steelers, in Aaron Rodgers agent, have
had contract parameters in place, I'm told for weeks. Money
was not a discussion today. This was about getting to
know each other, chance for both sides to get a
(22:25):
little bit more information. Rogers met with the coaches. Giant's
still involved as well, but this decision squarely in Aaron Rodgers' hands.
Tom Pilicero and Mike Garafalo joined now by erin Adam
Raank reduce segment called what are they thank you? I
feel like I have to do that in the Seinfeld voice.
Who are these people and what are they thank you? Right,
(22:47):
let's start out right there with the Pittsburgh Steelers here
they've made a trade for DK Metcalf. What did you
think about what they're thinking?
Speaker 11 (22:54):
Yeah, this is a big thing.
Speaker 13 (22:55):
By the way, I think, like my face coming up
after an animation that says what are they thinking? Think
encapsulates my entire career at the NFL network, Like what
are they thinking putting this guy on the air. But
I will say I'm curious as to what the Pittsburgh
Steelers are thinking.
Speaker 11 (23:10):
In general. You had justin Fields, you let him go.
Speaker 13 (23:12):
Now you're adding DK Metcalf to go in a wide
receiver room that also includes George Pickens, and they're like,
you know what, how can we make this more combustible.
I got an idea, let's bring in Aaron Rodgers as well.
Speaker 11 (23:24):
What are they trying to do?
Speaker 13 (23:26):
I know that Mike Tomlin at one point coach Le'Veon
Bell and Antonio Brown and maybe you just think he's
a miracle worker, or maybe maybe they're trying to get
Mike Tomlin to quit, kind of like when you're sitting there, like, hey,
no more free food in the commissary all you work
from home, people have to come back. Organizations do that.
I don't know if they're doing that to Mike Tomlin,
(23:46):
But what are they thinking? I don't know, but I
guess they're trying to win a.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Lot of people asking, Rak, what are the Cowboys thinking?
Speaker 2 (23:53):
What are they doing? Why are they doing more? They
did get Osa Odiggy zooa back on a twenty million
dollar deal. What are the Cowboys thinking on this one?
Speaker 11 (24:03):
Yeah, that's solved it, Mike, they got it. All their
problems are gone away.
Speaker 13 (24:06):
You know what, I will tell you this this date
in world history, back in nineteen eighty, before the three
of us were even born, people are watching a TV
show called Dallas wondering who shot Jr. Similarly, people are
watching the Dallas Cowboys wondering what are they thinking? Why
are they not solidifying this team? You know, there was
a time when the Dallas Cowboys were one of the
(24:27):
biggest brand. They still are, like one of the premier
teams in the NFL. They would go out and they
would sign Deon Sanders. Jerry Jones so upset that the
forty nine ers won a Super Bowl, he went out
and brought in Deon Sanders. Now, over the last two offseasons,
they have not made any significant upgrades. They're letting Ceedee
Lamb go out there run off by himself. Ric O'Donnells
now in Carolina, I'm looking at this Dallas Cowboys team.
(24:50):
And the funny thing too, is they fired or they
just didn't re sign Mike McCarthy, which is fine, which
is fine if you're bringing in oh, I don't know,
like Ben Johnson or somebody. Instead, they're going for Brian Schottenheimer.
I'm still curious what the Cowboys are thinking with the coaching,
with the offensive talent.
Speaker 11 (25:10):
Is Micah Parsons? Is he going to get me long term?
I don't know.
Speaker 13 (25:13):
I really want the Dallas Cowboys to go back out
there because the NFL is better when the Dallas Cowboys
are good, and I just I'm just curious as to
what they're thinking.
Speaker 11 (25:21):
What's the long term solution for this team.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
I'll stay in Texas where the Houston Tech Sans went
to the playoffs, won a playoff game for a second
consecutive year, and they responded to that by blowing up
the offensive staff and also blowing up the offensive line.
They trade Laramy Tunsell to the Washington Commanders. They eventually
replace him with Cam Robinson. What are they thinking, Ray?
Speaker 1 (25:43):
What are they thinking?
Speaker 13 (25:44):
They gave up fifty two sacks last year and now
they're like, you know what, let's get rid of Laramie Tunzel.
He was clearly the problem. They sent him to the
Washington commanders. Actually, they made a number of moves on
the offensive. Why not only was Laramie Tunzel gone, Shaq
Mason Kenyon Green gets traded away. You mentioned some of
the moves they made, bringing Ed Ingram, who is a
(26:04):
former I believe, second round pick of the Minnesota Vikings
who never really panned out for them.
Speaker 11 (26:09):
I'm just curious what the philosophy is.
Speaker 13 (26:12):
I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt
because it is funny to think about, like, hey, how
horrible the offensive line was last year giving up the
fifty two sacks? As I mentioned, how bad? How can
it be worse? Like why not try something new? So
I understand it's befuddling. It's like I don't want to
be the guy who's watching like the middle of the series,
(26:32):
like the third season of Sons of Anarchy, where you're like,
where is this going? And then you get to the
final episode You're like, Okay, this all makes sense. Maybe
the Texans have a master plan that we're not privy to.
I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
They're back to back division champs, but still, what do
you think of Texans?
Speaker 2 (26:49):
We got one other question here real quick for your
rank before we let you go. You said you were
not born in nineteen eighty How.
Speaker 10 (26:55):
Old are you?
Speaker 11 (26:56):
Hairs? Why are you Why are you challenging me?
Speaker 13 (27:00):
I said, I I die my beard so I can
sit here and play younger on television.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
You're the after Mike's before you're after Mike's.
Speaker 11 (27:11):
It's a nice thing.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
It's getting in a two shot here. Let's get the
side by side. We've got these two guys here. It's
just for men.
Speaker 11 (27:18):
It could be who went to target and bought.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
That you need to be have the sand face.
Speaker 11 (27:23):
Look at that.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
You got the eyebrows too, which I think. I think
that's a nice touch. Frank, thank you very much. Let's
do this segment again. This has been greatly enjoyable to me.
Pro Day's rolling on across the country, that includes at
the University of Michigan. They got several players who could
hear their names called in Round one of the draft,
which is just thirty four short days away. One of
(27:47):
those names tight end Colston Loveland, who stood he didn't
sit with our Jeffrey Chidia.
Speaker 9 (27:53):
We're here with Colston Loveland and want to talk to
you about your experience. I know that you didn't work
out today, but how has the pre draft process been
going for you?
Speaker 5 (28:00):
It's been good. I had a little speed bump obviously
had shoulder surgery like late January, but it's been good.
Was training it first before then then just been rehabing since.
But I've been around the guys. It's going to be
back in Michigan to support the guys, for sure.
Speaker 9 (28:13):
I know you watch other guys go through this process
the first two years when you were in this program.
What's it been like for you to be in the
pro day thinking about how close you are to becoming
an NFL player.
Speaker 5 (28:22):
Yeah, it's crazy to think about the time flies, for sure,
but no, it's cool. I mean that's what it's all about. Obviously,
getting to the next level is super cool. Super proud
of everyone out here who came and competed. But yeah,
I'm just excited for what's ahead.
Speaker 9 (28:35):
So you haven't been able to do a lot of
stuff as far as performing for scouts, as far as
the workout part, but you put some great tape on
the last three years here. What do you think your
best attributes are for an NFL team that wants to
draft you.
Speaker 5 (28:45):
Yeah, I think my route running in my hands. I
think like the separation I create. So it's if you
watched the tape, I feel like I'm opening a good
amount of time. So I feel like that's probably my
biggest attribute.
Speaker 9 (28:56):
Now, I know you probably are looking at the maybe
some of the pre draft stuff and mock drafts, and
a lot of people talk about the Chargers need to
get tight end and you're ex head coaches coaching the Chargers,
and now how much do you think about that as
a possibility for you?
Speaker 5 (29:08):
Yeah, I mean it always is, you know. I don't
like to get too deep into those things because they're
just mocks, you know, and you won't we won't know
until we know. So, but it's cool. It's cool to
think about. I'm actually going on a visit to go
see them tuesday, so it'll be cool to see those
guys every night.
Speaker 9 (29:20):
Okay, And finally, what are you going to be doing
on draft Day?
Speaker 6 (29:24):
So I'll be at home.
Speaker 5 (29:24):
So I got to like my aunt and uncle's house,
who got like eighty like family members, you know, distant
family coming over. So we're just gonna have a good
time there, eat some food, celebrate.
Speaker 9 (29:33):
It's a big good time, Okay, man, Well, hey, good
luck to you and congratulations on the great career. Man,
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
From a top tight end to one of the top
wide receivers in the NFL Draft. No, that's not him,
that's larrymy Tunsel. But we are going to talk to
Jaydon Higgins very soon. Are we gonn talking about Larry
ye tunseel too. I'm sure we'll get to that. We're
gonna get to all kinds of stuff. But Jayde Higgins,
I always stable hide receivers. Join us next on The Insiders.
(30:04):
Take a look at the numbers of the scouting combine
for Jaden Higgins. Four four seven forty yard dash. That's
pretty fast speed for a big man who also can jump,
he can catch. He also can be a great TV guest.
Welcome back to the Insiders. Tom Pellicero and Mike Garifolo,
joined right now by Jaden Higgins. Jayden, we are thirty
four days away from the NFL Draft. You'll soon know
(30:27):
where you're going. I'm sure you're zipping all over the country. Like,
what's it like being Jaden Higgins? Right now.
Speaker 14 (30:35):
I feel like it's definitely exciting, you know, going through
this process. You know, it's definitely something that I'm trying
to just take every day as a blessing day by day,
but just doing my best to my abilities for sure.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
Tom talked about zipping across the country a lot of
visits with teams. Who have you had a chance to
visit recently? How many total on the docket?
Speaker 15 (30:56):
Yeah, so far. I only went to one business so far.
Went to the Steelers last week. It was a good visit.
And then I got upcoming the Chargers.
Speaker 14 (31:06):
Seattle, the Vikings, and then also in New York as well,
so a little bit around.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
So all kinds of places across the country. Tell me
about that Steelers visit though, Mike Tomlin, he's a very
interesting guy. He is an intense guy in that setting
where he's very much trying to figure out, Okay, does
this guy fit into the Steelers culture? What was it
like meeting with him?
Speaker 15 (31:26):
It was awesome, man.
Speaker 14 (31:27):
I feel like, you know, he's definitely a down to
earth type of person. I'm really just talking to him,
getting to know him, and him getting to know me,
and really just talking about at.
Speaker 5 (31:35):
The end of the day.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
It was really cool though.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
Yeah, when I mean listen, I gather that these meetings
for you are really good ones because the more that
we pick up on you, the more of the teams
that you understand the game. I'm sure you have a
great connection with coaches when you're discussing the exend and
o's that you kind of played a little bit all
over the place and that the transition for you to
the next level. A lot of evaluators say should be
(31:58):
kind of like that.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Do you feel that way?
Speaker 3 (32:00):
I mean, do you feel like you're as pro ready
as it gets coming out of college.
Speaker 14 (32:04):
I mean, for sure, I give all the credits to
the my coaching staff back at Iowa State, just you know,
instelling those work habits in me and just making sure
I understand what I'm doing when I'm out there on
the field. I always got to be ready for my
opportunity and when it comes, just got to make the play.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
I looked back into tweet the Daniel Jeremiah draft expert
had last month so going into the combine process, and
he was saying, this is a fun cluster to sort
out at the wide receiver position. Trey Harris for bull
miss Jaden Higgins, Jack Besh from TCU, Tory Horton from
Colorado State. All four guys are big, athletic and provide
immediate impact. These are the conversations that go on in
(32:39):
draft rooms, right, which is, Hey, these guys all have
similar types of skill sets. We're looking for one of them.
Everyone's got to ask themselves which is the best ones.
So if you're making the pitch to the team a
bunch of other guys where they measure similarly, they run similarly,
why should somebody take you?
Speaker 14 (32:54):
You know, at the end of the day, I would
just say, you know I'm a consistent playmaker. You know
when I go out there, you know I'm gonna make
the play when when it comes to me. And then
even off the field, you know I'm a good person,
reliable leader, and just gonna help the team get better
when I step into the building.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
I mentioned that you know you kind of played all
over the place. You played, the X, you played, the
Z you play. I mean, where do you think your
most effective number one? What's the most fun spot on
the field for you to line up?
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Lineup?
Speaker 3 (33:20):
I guess what I'm asking is what is your favorite
letter of the football alphabet.
Speaker 6 (33:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 14 (33:27):
Really, I like to be moved around. You know, whoever
that ball is gonna come to me and I can
help the team win.
Speaker 15 (33:33):
That's what I want to be.
Speaker 14 (33:34):
You know, I'm a big receiver, outside receiver, but I
can play in the slot and dominating there against some
all the guys.
Speaker 15 (33:39):
So you know, whoever the team needs you to make
is I'm gonna be there.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
So the next five weeks, again, you got all these
visits lined up. Presumably you're also working out, trying to
fight a way to stay in shape. Here, just take
me through some kind of the psychology of what you're
going through here again, not only which of these teams
could eventually be your home. You don't have control over that.
So are you just handling the final phase of this process?
Speaker 15 (34:02):
Yeah, I think, just like you said, the biggest thing
is really, you know, focusing on football.
Speaker 6 (34:07):
Now.
Speaker 14 (34:07):
You know, I already ran the forty ended everything I
needed to do at the comments, So now we're getting
back into you know, football and making sure my skill
chaining is up to par and so I'm ready to
go and compete for my spot when I get to
the camp.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Jayden, We're going to leave you with this you got
great hair, man, Like everywhere I look, I see it
right now. I'll look at the lettuce up there. Man,
do not take that for granted. Okay, your hair rankings
when it comes to the draft, I got to put
your way up there.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
I just want to give you a props on that
before we.
Speaker 6 (34:34):
Let you go.
Speaker 15 (34:35):
I appreciate it most definitely.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
Mike saying, do not take it for granted, because one
day you could look like Camp. That's the subtext of
what he was saying. Jayden, best the luck right there
on the level. He's sticking it out. He's gonna make
it here. Jayden, thanks a lot, man, best a lot.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
For sure, Thank you, saying to you guys, I always
want a Cardinals quarterback.
Speaker 4 (34:57):
Kyler Murray has twenty two games at least one passing
touchdown and one rushing rushing touchdown. That's the third most
since since entering the league in twenty nineteen. Pretty good.
The Cardinals spent free agency. They were pretty busy in
the early wave of free agency trying to build up
that team around him. That got Jacoby Brissett and there
(35:18):
to be his backup quarterback. The big one, of course,
is Josh swed who by the way, got my vote
for MVP of the Super Bowl. Coming over from the
Eagles to chase quarterbacks around, and they got some pretty.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
Good ones in the NFC West.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
Let's bring in our Omar Ruiz to talk about what
the Arizona Cardinals have been doing all right, Omar, what
has been the focus of the Cardinals free agency so far?
Speaker 16 (35:42):
Well, we saw that they upgraded their pass rush with
joshwed Dalvin Tomlinson. Obviously a big focus for Jonathan Gannon
was going to get those players that can really affect
the quarterback defensively. And then when you talk about offensively
with Kyler Murray, a lot of talk about continuity heading
into year three with Drewetsing as his offensive coordinator, Izzy
Wolfork his quarterback coach, trying to get Kyler Murray really
(36:06):
to play his best football in twenty twenty five. Year
one in that system was about establishing the system. Year
two was really trying to accentuate what the individual players
do best and revolve the game plan around that. But
when you look at Kyler Murray, year two with Marvin
Harrison junior, Michael Wilson is back, Greg Dortch's back, Trey McBride,
(36:26):
James Connor, all the talent around him is back to
help with the continuity and speaking to people in the building,
they're going to ask Kyler Moore, Kyler Murray to put
even more on his plate going forward. They really take
more command at the line of scrimmage, and that's whether
that's helping with protections with the offensive line, which last
year Judy was so incredibly banged up, so not a
(36:46):
lot of chemistry there, so Kyler can help there and
also give those double play calls to either keep the
defenses off balance or to help when they're mismatched on
the offensive line, putting it on Kyler telling him to
go win the game. They're looking for a big show
of improvement again from this Cardinals team who went from
four wins in twenty twenty three Jonathan Gannon's first year
(37:07):
there to eight wins last year, hoping for another big
jump into twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (37:11):
Well, we saw quite a bit of improvement.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
We're going all the way over to the East coast
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young after he got his starting
job back, he was benched and he got it back
in week eight, and then he finished with fifteen touchdowns
and six picks in his last ten starts, so certainly
marked improvement after the benching. Let's look at what they
did in free agency. They made a lot of moves.
(37:35):
They were definitely focused on shoring up their defense. The
defense finished last in the league in most of the
major categories. That is where most of their acquisition came from.
And of course jac Horn got the big extension. But omar,
what are they looking for Bryce Young to do to
continue his ascent?
Speaker 16 (37:55):
Yeah, you mentioned the fifteen touchdowns and six interceptions in
the ten games since he returned and became the starter
after the five game benching earlier in the year, and
they went four and six in those ten games. I
asked his head coach recently, Dave Canalis, what happened what
clicked with Bryce Young? And he said, to his credit,
he is somebody who has always thrived under pressure. And
(38:17):
when you look at the big picture of what was
happening with Bryce Young, he was playing for a head
coach and a general manager who did not draft him.
In some respects, you can argue that the early part
of his career was on the line. When he came
back in for those final ten games, so he thrived
under that pressure.
Speaker 2 (38:33):
They went four and six.
Speaker 16 (38:34):
Three of those wins came in overtime, and you saw
him play well down the stretch in those games to
help lead them in those pressure pack situations, responding to
the pressure in those ways, also going toe to toe
with the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, unfazed by
how good those teams weren't playing them down the stretch.
(38:54):
Obviously those were the Super Bowl participants. I talked to
his longtime personal quarterback coach Anny Hernandez about the focus
for Bryce Young going into year three and this offseason.
It's all about studying defenses and what their coordinators tendencies are,
what tree they might be from, which coaches they coached under,
in developing and also developing and studying the catalog of
(39:18):
individual defenders that they're going to face and what they're
tells what their tendencies might be. So obviously Bryce Young
focusing on his game, what the Carolina Panthers offense wants
to do in twenty five, but also what defenses and
defenders are trying to affect them going forward there to
build in his third season.
Speaker 4 (39:37):
Really encouraging signs from Bryce young in the second half
of last season. Omar, thank you very much. Enjoy your weekend.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
Jameis Winston loves to eat those ws and also capitalize them,
as he posts on social media a short time ago,
start spreading the news. Is that an apple? Yes, indeed
it is because Jameis Winston is now a New York Giant.
It's a two year, eight million dollar deal that is
backup quarterback money. It does not preclude the Giants for
making additional quarterback moves. Welcome back to the insiders, Tom Pillisio,
(40:08):
Judi Battisa, and Mike Garrofollo. Mike, what this seems to
be is it' team that had one quarterback on the
roster and Tommy DeVito. They knew they needed to add two.
A deal like this doesn't really change your trajectory. It
sounds like all options are made available here. No, they're
still in on Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 3 (40:26):
They are still toying with the idea of what to
do in the draft, whether at three or in a
trade up there to get to one. Although they may
have a tough time prying the Titans out of that spot.
But yeah, they needed bodies in that quarterback room.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
They had met with veterans.
Speaker 3 (40:41):
Some of these guys are gonna wind up sign it,
Like if Russell Wilson signed somewhere else, then you may
run out option. So locking in Jamis Winston starting to
get some quarterbacks in that room.
Speaker 4 (40:50):
In the meantime, this is going to be quite a
bit of fun for the beat writers because Jamis Winston
is one of the most entertaining people in the entire NFL.
But the line here, and I don't think we can
emphasize this enough, is this is not the last time
we're going to be discussing quarterbacks for the New York Giants.
This does not preclude them from doing basically anything else
in free agency or in the draft.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
So Jamis Winston last scene in a snow globe in
Cleveland goes to the Giants. The possible then that this
leads to Russell Wilson replacing him in Cleveland. Stay tuned.
We're not back till Monday. We're on social media. The
off season never ends. We'll see it on Monday for
the weekend. Everybody
This just in.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
We officially have an Aaron Rodgers signing. Excuse me, I
misread that we officially have an Aaron Rodgers sighting in Pittsburgh,
where he spent the day getting to know the Steelers.
But will he actually don the black and yellow? We
will tell you the latest. Russe Wilson is also on
Rogers Watch, mainly because Wilson's own future may depend on
(00:30):
the four time NFL MVP's destination. There is one team
Russ could choose to go to any time, though, depending
if he wants to live dangerously. Cowboys are in their
comfort zone. By that I mean watching everybody else make
big moves. Our guy Adam Rank has some thoughts on
the NFL offseason's most puzzling transactions or lack thereof, as
(00:55):
he joins the only relevant sports programming on TV tonight,
Welcome in s with the Insiders alongside Judy Batista and
Mike Garafalo. I am Tom Pelisero. It has actually been
a very packed week for us of quarterback drama, shockingly
surrounding the destination of one Aaron Rodgers. But a key
(01:17):
development today we have proof of life. Because that's right.
Aaron Rodgers was meeting with these Steelers. This is the
first known visit for Aaron Rodgers. It sounds like it
came together relatively last minute. He spent a lot of
time today with the coaches in person for the first time.
My understanding is the contract parameters have actually been in
(01:38):
place four weeks. This is not a money thing. They
didn't talk money today. They just forgetting to know each other.
The Giants mic are still in the mix here. But
this decision as it has been is clearly in Rogers hands.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Yeah, this is part of the process for Aaron, right.
It's been a process, right, And everything seems to be
a process when it comes to Aaron Rodgers and making
his decisions on future lately, going back to his time
deciding on whether he wanted to be with the Jets
and the whole Darkness retreat and taking his time there,
and he actually changed his mind during that whole process.
He went in expecting to retire and came out saying, no,
(02:13):
I want to go play for the Jets.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
So whatever he was feeling.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
At the beginning of this, if he's changed it, if
today changed it, if today moved the needle at all
for him, wouldn't be surprised to me as the kind
of guy that seems to be open to feedback, whether
it's internal where whether it's the feedback he receives from
the people he's talking to, or whether it comes from
another dimension, I don't know. But the point is that
Aaron Rodgers has made it clear he is going to
(02:36):
take his time with this. So when we got word
today that he was in the facility, I still didn't
think that something was immediately going down because I knew,
based on what we have been told, that this was
going to be a bit of a longer process.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Now the Giants are still in the mix.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
At what point will he give the Giants a chance
to potentially talk to them?
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Will he period?
Speaker 3 (02:54):
We shall see as this moves along, But for now,
Judy just collecting information and getting into the facil and
meeting people face to face now that he knows also by.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
The way, that the Vikings are out of it at
least for now.
Speaker 4 (03:05):
Well, that's the piece that I think makes this the
most interesting is that this visit took place just days
after the Vikings made it publicly clear that they were
not going to move forward pursuing Aaron Rodgerson At least
not right now. So the timetable is what made this interesting.
But this strikes me as just more information gathering for him,
(03:26):
and as you pointed out, like he has done this
in the past when he has made decisions, ready gathers
information than he sort of goes home or goes to
wherever and continues to mull it over. As we have
been saying now for several weeks, it's not a matter
of the money. The contract parameters have been on the
table all along. So if he were prepared to accept
(03:47):
an offer that could happen very quickly and move forward immediately.
That's not where we are though yet. He's not there yet.
He's still in the get to know you phase. Let's
talk about what we could maybe do together. How do
you see the franchise moving forward? That's the phase he's in,
and that to me sounds like it is still quite
a ways from making a decision.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Now.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
We'll see again if he sits down with the Giants
in person as he did with the Steelers. But I
think this is just another part of the Aaron Rodgers process.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
And it is a very very deliberate one.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Meanwhile, Russell Wilson is continuing to wait, in part because
he is a fallback option of sorts for at least
the Giants, potentially the Steelers. Nothing shocks me anymore. I'd
be surprised if he ends up back in Pittsburgh based
on the fact that they've pursued Justin Fields to try
to get him back, then pursuing Aaron Rodgers. Russell Wilson
no better than the third choice there, but does seem
(04:43):
like he's a real option potentially to spending on how
things play out with the Giants, and also a real
option for the Cleveland Browns, a team that at this
point is not pursuing other veteran quarterbacks, but have had
a visit with Russ who this is his daily dose
right here. I don't know if he gets these from
a book, he comes up with them himself, but he
(05:04):
is relentless. It is social media posts today. It was
relentless confidence. Don't ever stop believing in you, which is
good advice, Judy Whn Just to be quite honest, not
a shot at Russ, but a lot of people have
lost confidence in Russell Wilson coaching staffs, organizations over the
past four years. This is not Russell Wilson calling the shots,
(05:24):
but he does have an opportunity here, depending on things
that play out with Rogers, to potentially be the next
big domino.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
That falls no question.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
I mean, the fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers lost confidence
and Russ is why we are all in this situation
right now waiting for Aaron Rodgers if they wanted Russ back.
He made it clear on the last day of the
Steelers season that he very much wanted to be back
with the Steelers. Certainly that seems like a very long
shot now to me. The X factor here is does
he want to be the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns
(05:53):
because that offer, that opportunity appears to be out there
and he doesn't have to wait for anybody else to
make up his mind. I mean, if he said wakes
up tomorrow and says, you know what, I want to
be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, that again
seems to be something that could come very quickly. The
fact that it has not happened suggests that he has
other things in mind as well, and he is going
(06:14):
to wait and is willing to wait at least for
a little while longer on Aaron Rodgers to make his decision,
watch where that domino goes, and then Russell will react accordingly.
The New York Giants are still out there if they've
talked to Russell Wilson as well. All these dominoes have
been standing for a few weeks now still to fall.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
I think somewhere Russell Wilson is hoping that Aaron Rodgers
goes to the Steelers, which would open New York, because
I just go back to a couple of years and
the rumblings were strong to the point where some folks.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Were saying it was going to happen.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
It never did happen, But Russell Wilson to the Giants
has been rumored and rumbled about for a couple of
years now because the New York market, obviously with his
wife Sierra and her side of the business basically in
New York, would be a good thing for her, and
the bright lights of the city a good thing for
him as well, something that he would be attracted. He
(07:07):
never shies away from the spotlight and he would love
the spotlight of New York.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
So I think the fact that he hasn't taken that
offer Judy from the Browns that you're talking about. If
I had to rank them.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
And I don't know this to be one hundred percent true,
but I feel pretty good about it.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
I think he wants to get to the Giants.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
I really do.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
He's the one that initiated the visit with the Giants
last year. They had Daniel Jones at the time, but
he wanted to meet with them. They said, Okay, come
on and you can be with us. This time around.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
It's a little bit different because they're in much more
desperate need of a quarterback at this point. But Russell
Wilson to New York I think is something that he's
always sort of wanted, at least on the back burner
in the back of his mind, could potentially happen at
this point.
Speaker 6 (07:45):
We'll see.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
I can't remember another quarterback situation like what Pittsburgh has
where Russell Wilson, once he got healthy last year, started,
he finished the season as a starter, they went to
the playoffs. He'll be a limping into the playoffs and
losing in their first game. But the Steelers have brought
back the guy that they let go to Tennessee, Mason Rudolph,
in order to bring Russell Wilson in. They also have
tried to pursue and bring back Justin Fields, the guy
(08:09):
they benched have Russell Wilson in the lineup. Somehow, Russell
Wilson continues to fall in terms of their options. Justin
Fields has a new team and of course is the
New York Jets. He signed that two year, forty million
dollar contract including thirty million guaranteed. Now a top the
depth jerk for a new regime with Aaron Glennon Company
in New York. He sat down with the Jets team
reporter Ethan Greenberg coach Glinn.
Speaker 7 (08:32):
You know, I've played against him early in my career.
You know, I know how passionate he is about the game.
You know, just the way he coaches, you know the
way his players play. So I think that was, you know,
the biggest thing for me, and just the opportunity, the
fans of course, the city and you know when you
win here, there's there's no better place to win. Yeah,
all those all those characteristics, all those reasons are you know,
(08:55):
ultimately the reason I ended up here.
Speaker 8 (08:57):
So you know, last year for you, statistically your best
year as a passer.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Do you feel like you're coming into your own a
little bit now?
Speaker 7 (09:03):
Yeah, not for sure, and I know for myself, I
definitely have some untapped potential that I haven't reached yet.
But I'm hoping to get there this year, and I'm
hoping to put it on display for everybody to see.
Speaker 8 (09:14):
To play against a guy like Aaron lenn for multiple
years when you were with the Bears, he with the Lions,
for him to want to have you here in his
first year as a head coach, what does that mean
to you?
Speaker 7 (09:23):
Yeah, I mean it means a lot, you know, of course,
you know our relationship, you know, playing against each other,
like you said, it means a lot, you know, because
you know, just Detroit, they've had, of course, a lot
of success in the past couple of years. So for
him to want me here is is definitely an honor.
And of course I'm going to, you know, put it
all out on the line for him and do all
I can to you know, help this scene be successful.
Speaker 8 (09:43):
So and how nice is it for you to reunite
with a couple of former Buck guys, including Josh Meyers
most recently.
Speaker 7 (09:49):
Yes, Yeah, my guy Josh called me yesterday and you
know said he was planning on you know, signing here.
So once I heard that news, I was definitely exciting,
and you know, Rouck and Gett texting me too.
Speaker 9 (09:59):
So to be back with some of our buck guys
for sure.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
From an Ohio State man to the school that hasn't
lost to Ohio State since Fields left Michigan. They held
their pro day in ann Arbor earlier today. A lot
of top prospects, including some that you've seen a top
Daniel Jeremiah's list of the top fifty players in this
year's and FL Draft. Were just thirty three days away
from that draft. You could have as many as four
(10:25):
names of Michigan men called on night one in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
One who is a very good bet, Mason Graham, who
sat down with our Jeffrey Chidin.
Speaker 9 (10:36):
We're here with Mason Graham and you put in some
time here doing positional drills. You didn't work out the
full workout, but you put in positional drills. How did
they go for you?
Speaker 10 (10:44):
I feel like it went good. You know, just good
to get out here on the field again. Haven't been
on this field in a while, so it's good, you know,
being in a familiar place and you know, just working
out with some of the teammates.
Speaker 9 (10:53):
Yeah, I know, you guys have been bouncing around doing
interviews and comment all this stuff. How has the pre
draft process been for you?
Speaker 6 (10:58):
It's been good.
Speaker 10 (10:59):
Obviously it's like a long process, but you know, it
is what it is. You know, meeting staffs, you know, teams, coaches,
just getting to know them and you know, see what
the future holds.
Speaker 9 (11:08):
And you're pretty much considered a top ten, top five pick.
So I imagine you've got a lot of people who
want to talk to you over the next twenty four
hours for eight hours, how many teams have you spoken
to since pro day started?
Speaker 10 (11:20):
I had like four or five meetings here at the facility,
and I had like three dinners, so I'm met with
quite a few people, and then I have a lunch
after this, so I met with quite a few teams,
and I'm met with like twenty teams at the combine,
So almost hit everyone.
Speaker 9 (11:33):
And so I know combine is like fifteen minutes of talking. Here,
you get more time, Like, how do you handle some
of that being on and being ready to answer all
these questions?
Speaker 10 (11:41):
You have more time, longer dinners. Yeah, I just feel like,
you know, it might get repetitive at times. You know
that teams are asking the same questions, just trying to
get to know you, but you know, just being honest, truthful,
you know, just being yourself at the end of the day.
Speaker 6 (11:53):
Yeah, I feel like that's what's best.
Speaker 9 (11:55):
Great and finally again, impact player projected top five, top
ten pick. What are you going to bring to an
NFL time?
Speaker 10 (12:01):
I feel like I'm, you know, one of the most
elite defenders in this draft or overall too. I feel
like I played the run in pass at a high level,
so I feel like that's kind of what makes me
different compared to you know, other people.
Speaker 9 (12:13):
Okay, well, hey man, good luck to you and congratulations.
I know you're gonna have a great career. I appreciate
you doing this.
Speaker 6 (12:17):
I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Pro Day's rolling on next one up. It's a big
one on Monday, Miami Pro Day and Cam wore the
potential number one overall pick. You can catch it live Monday,
four thirty pm Eastern Time right here on NFL Network
and NFL Plus. Coming up on this show, Adam Rank
is going to be here. Rank never short on opinions.
(12:43):
He's got some thoughts about some of the activity or
lack thero of we've seen around the NFL, including who
exactly is Dak Prescott throwing the football too? In twenty
twenty five, r Ank will break it down. But after this,
we've got one of the biggest science in free agency. Literally,
big check for big man Milton Williams, the one hundred
four million dollar man of the New England Patriots. How
(13:05):
close was he to going elsewhere? What's his role gonna
look like in New England? Milton Williams with us. Next
stick around, it's the insiders.
Speaker 11 (13:25):
Maho his buck Mahomes looking, are you looking?
Speaker 2 (13:29):
He is grown Knock Golton.
Speaker 12 (13:34):
This offensive line of the Kansas City teams's lout can
rock the Eagles pressure.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
When you make plays like that on football's biggest stage,
you get to sign contracts like this one hundred or
four million dollars from the Patriots to that guy Milton Williams,
who now takes a moment to join us right here
on the Insiders, Tom Pellicero and Judy Battista. You're one
of the stars of a Super Bowl, Shelacke to the
Chief Smelton. You get this big contract. Well, what's life like?
(14:03):
Is Milton Williams right now?
Speaker 6 (14:06):
It's crazy, It's crazy.
Speaker 12 (14:08):
Really, if you go back in a year, a year
from now and tell me that you know you're gonna
win the Super Bowl, you're finda signed a.
Speaker 6 (14:17):
Hundred million dollar contracts somewhere, I would have been like,
stop lying.
Speaker 12 (14:21):
But I mean, I mean you were, you work your
whole life for something, you finally, you know, start achieving
some of the goals. It's like, it's just it don't
seem real because it's like, I mean, that was just
one game. Obviously it was a big moment that being
in the Super Bowl, but it was one game, and
you know, I feel like I played the best I
(14:43):
could play on that stage. So you know, that's that's
what comes with that. So now it's been a lot
of fun, been a lot of a lot of happy tears,
you know, with my family. It's just been great. Man,
it's been great.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
All Right, you signed a big deal with the New
England Patriots.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
What has it been like?
Speaker 4 (15:02):
What are the conversations been like with Mike Rabel and
the other folks around the Patriots about what to expect.
Speaker 6 (15:09):
No, just it was good. You know, they welcomed me
in with open arms. I just came back from a
visit up there last week.
Speaker 12 (15:16):
Last weekend, signed my contract, you know, getting to the staff,
get a tour the building, and now it's gonna be cool.
Speaker 6 (15:24):
It's gonna be cool. Coach Rabel.
Speaker 12 (15:28):
Was just preaching to me about how they're gonna use
me and that type of in his defense and how
he won't He wanted a guy every level of the
defense for free agency.
Speaker 6 (15:37):
You know, he want us to come in and try
to change the culture.
Speaker 12 (15:40):
Around that's been going on in New England the past
couple of years, and I definitely think he picked the
right guys for that.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Well, take me back to that first day of free agency,
and this is a show called The Insiders, right, it's
all about the news and the information. We were going
wall to wall with free agency frenzy and we were
dealing with them for about an hour there on that
first day of free agency, with reports that you were
close to signing with the Panthers. They're working to finalize
the deal. There's breaking newscrapts. You can still find them,
Mill Williams with a Panther's uniform on what actually happened,
(16:11):
what was going on behind the scenes in that hour,
Were you ever actually close to light in someplace under than.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
New England actually my agent. They were all on the fall.
I was just kind of in the room.
Speaker 12 (16:22):
They were on the phone talking and teams are coming
in with new deals at the new deals and it
was a lot going on. It happened really fast. He
told me about Carolina deal and I was like, all right, well.
Speaker 6 (16:34):
That's only the best offer we're gonna get, so we're
gonna go there.
Speaker 12 (16:37):
But then I guess a split second later in New
England like hopped on was like, nah right, all right,
this is what we got for you. And yeah, Carolina,
they felt like they went too high on their number,
so they stayed where they was at and New England
came in and you know, that was it.
Speaker 6 (16:55):
After day, you know, they showed they wanted me the
most and made me a priority. So made them a priority.
Speaker 11 (17:02):
All right.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
We know that Rabel told you, we hope you're ready
to play even more than you're played in Philadelphia. He
wants you on the field a lot more. What are
you going to do to get ready for a much
heavier workload than you had.
Speaker 12 (17:15):
I'm gonna just do it, do what I always done,
you know, just all I just put it in the work,
just extra conditioning, boxing, you know, running, you know, trying
to make sure I'm eating right, eating cleaner, getting right
around to sleep, you know, everything anything I can do
in my power. You know, I'm trying to do whatever
I can to make sure that I'm fully functioning and
(17:38):
able to provide for my team when.
Speaker 6 (17:41):
They need you to.
Speaker 12 (17:41):
So you know, I'm all ears for any suggestions on
what i should do, But if anything else, I'm gonna do.
Speaker 6 (17:50):
You know what I've been doing my whole life to
get to this point.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
So when you get paid the way that you did,
when you're the big splash Preegen signing, there's a level
of leadership that to expected there too, right in terms of, hey,
our best players are highest paid players, got to be
the ones that drive this culture. And it's been a while.
It's been four or five years since the Patriots were
really winning at the same level that they did for
all those years with Tom Brady. So what of the
proactive things, if any, that you intend to do to
(18:16):
kind of try to set the tone and make sure
not just Milton Williams playing well, but this entire Patriots
team gets ahead of the right direction.
Speaker 12 (18:23):
Just coming to work every day, I'm not I'm not
a speech kind of guy. I just I kind of
try to lead by example, to show up and do
what they asked me. Was they paying us a lot
of money to play play a child's game, So you know,
show up, do to work, do extra work.
Speaker 6 (18:42):
So I mean, when it's time, when the lights come on,
you're ready for it.
Speaker 12 (18:45):
But yeah, you know, I'm just ready for ready for
the opportunity to show more of what I can do
as a player.
Speaker 4 (18:56):
When you were in Philadelphia, the defense over the years
had some ups and downs. Right twenty twenty three it
took a dip, and then obviously last season was the
best defense in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
What can you take from that experience and what you
guys did.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
With the Eagles last season that maybe you can apply
in New England where they are trying to get back
to the defensive tradition they had for so many years.
Speaker 12 (19:21):
Just then togetherness as a defense and as a team.
You know, there's a long season. I think we end
up playing twenty one or twenty two games. We had
an early bye week, so we went straight through. So
I mean, you're gonna need your brothers to you know,
one day you may and I feel like you're gonna
need somebody to pick you up, and vice versa. So
(19:43):
every day, you know, just coming in, you know, put
it on the line for your brother. Once you get
in the game. You know, of course we all want
to make plays, we all want headlines and stuff like that.
But at the end of the day, whoever make the play,
they don't make the play longer we win the game.
That should be the main objective. So you know, I'm
(20:03):
doing whatever I can to make plays for me or
make plays for others. Whoever, you just make the play,
get them stop, Let's get our offensive ball and try
to put us some more points and shoot.
Speaker 6 (20:15):
That's how we want. You know, we count on each other.
We played off each other.
Speaker 12 (20:18):
We we challenged each other every day at practice, and
they challenged us of the Super Bowl week, knowing that
we could be able to take advantage of our matchups
up front. And you know, Mahomes is a great quarterback,
so we had to be all all ready to go
and try to stop him for sure.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
The last thing for you, you know, at anytime that
a guy signs a big contract, I think that there's
certain things maybe they want to take care of it
in their life. You're on with us right now. We
kept sign the contract or in a plan T shirt.
You got no jewelry, there's nothing flashing behind you. You didn't,
you know, buy a million dollar painting or something. Is
there one thing you want? One thing that Milton Williams
has always wanted? And now you're like, all right, I
(21:00):
can get this now.
Speaker 12 (21:04):
Everything pretty much morning so far I hadn't already got.
So I'm kind of just like, take care of my
take care of my family, of course, you know, take
care of my mom my, pops. You know, they did
a lot for me to get into this situation. My sisters,
you know, they've been with me every step of the way.
They know everything that is going on behind the scenes.
(21:24):
You know, I wouldn't be here without them. So whatever
they need for me, am, I make sure I'm there
for them, just like they work for me. And you
know they're gonna be with me on this journey every
step of the way.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
And you say that again, man on everything, Yeah, go ahead?
Speaker 6 (21:39):
One thing?
Speaker 12 (21:40):
Yeah, yeah, bad? I think I answer it. I ain't really,
I mean, it ain't nothing that really walk I'm getting.
I'm getting the house for sure, probably get mom's the house. Now,
and she ain't gonna let me leave it down if
I don't do that. So we're gon we're gonna.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
Figure out way, enjoy every second of it. Building earned it.
Speaker 13 (22:00):
Man.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Congratulations, don't you come back on the show another time?
Speaker 6 (22:03):
Yes, sir, I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
I have Google our top store. Today Aaron Rodgers was
in the Steelers facility, the first visit of Rogers voyage
into free agency. The Steelers, in Aaron Rodgers agent, have
had contract parameters in place, I'm told for weeks. Money
was not a discussion today. This was about getting to
know each other, chance for both sides to get a
(22:25):
little bit more information. Rogers met with the coaches. Giant's
still involved as well, but this decision squarely in Aaron Rodgers' hands.
Tom Pilicero and Mike Garafalo joined now by erin Adam
Raank reduce segment called what are they thank you? I
feel like I have to do that in the Seinfeld voice.
Who are these people and what are they thank you? Right,
(22:47):
let's start out right there with the Pittsburgh Steelers here
they've made a trade for DK Metcalf. What did you
think about what they're thinking?
Speaker 11 (22:54):
Yeah, this is a big thing.
Speaker 13 (22:55):
By the way, I think, like my face coming up
after an animation that says what are they thinking? Think
encapsulates my entire career at the NFL network, Like what
are they thinking putting this guy on the air. But
I will say I'm curious as to what the Pittsburgh
Steelers are thinking.
Speaker 11 (23:10):
In general. You had justin Fields, you let him go.
Speaker 13 (23:12):
Now you're adding DK Metcalf to go in a wide
receiver room that also includes George Pickens, and they're like,
you know what, how can we make this more combustible.
I got an idea, let's bring in Aaron Rodgers as well.
Speaker 11 (23:24):
What are they trying to do?
Speaker 13 (23:26):
I know that Mike Tomlin at one point coach Le'Veon
Bell and Antonio Brown and maybe you just think he's
a miracle worker, or maybe maybe they're trying to get
Mike Tomlin to quit, kind of like when you're sitting there, like, hey,
no more free food in the commissary all you work
from home, people have to come back. Organizations do that.
I don't know if they're doing that to Mike Tomlin,
(23:46):
But what are they thinking? I don't know, but I
guess they're trying to win a.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
Lot of people asking, Rak, what are the Cowboys thinking?
Speaker 2 (23:53):
What are they doing? Why are they doing more? They
did get Osa Odiggy zooa back on a twenty million
dollar deal. What are the Cowboys thinking on this one?
Speaker 11 (24:03):
Yeah, that's solved it, Mike, they got it. All their
problems are gone away.
Speaker 13 (24:06):
You know what, I will tell you this this date
in world history, back in nineteen eighty, before the three
of us were even born, people are watching a TV
show called Dallas wondering who shot Jr. Similarly, people are
watching the Dallas Cowboys wondering what are they thinking? Why
are they not solidifying this team? You know, there was
a time when the Dallas Cowboys were one of the
(24:27):
biggest brand. They still are, like one of the premier
teams in the NFL. They would go out and they
would sign Deon Sanders. Jerry Jones so upset that the
forty nine ers won a Super Bowl, he went out
and brought in Deon Sanders. Now, over the last two offseasons,
they have not made any significant upgrades. They're letting Ceedee
Lamb go out there run off by himself. Ric O'Donnells
now in Carolina, I'm looking at this Dallas Cowboys team.
(24:50):
And the funny thing too, is they fired or they
just didn't re sign Mike McCarthy, which is fine, which
is fine if you're bringing in oh, I don't know,
like Ben Johnson or somebody. Instead, they're going for Brian Schottenheimer.
I'm still curious what the Cowboys are thinking with the coaching,
with the offensive talent.
Speaker 11 (25:10):
Is Micah Parsons? Is he going to get me long term?
I don't know.
Speaker 13 (25:13):
I really want the Dallas Cowboys to go back out
there because the NFL is better when the Dallas Cowboys
are good, and I just I'm just curious as to
what they're thinking.
Speaker 11 (25:21):
What's the long term solution for this team.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
I'll stay in Texas where the Houston Tech Sans went
to the playoffs, won a playoff game for a second
consecutive year, and they responded to that by blowing up
the offensive staff and also blowing up the offensive line.
They trade Laramy Tunsell to the Washington Commanders. They eventually
replace him with Cam Robinson. What are they thinking, Ray?
Speaker 1 (25:43):
What are they thinking?
Speaker 13 (25:44):
They gave up fifty two sacks last year and now
they're like, you know what, let's get rid of Laramie Tunzel.
He was clearly the problem. They sent him to the
Washington commanders. Actually, they made a number of moves on
the offensive. Why not only was Laramie Tunzel gone, Shaq
Mason Kenyon Green gets traded away. You mentioned some of
the moves they made, bringing Ed Ingram, who is a
(26:04):
former I believe, second round pick of the Minnesota Vikings
who never really panned out for them.
Speaker 11 (26:09):
I'm just curious what the philosophy is.
Speaker 13 (26:12):
I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt
because it is funny to think about, like, hey, how
horrible the offensive line was last year giving up the
fifty two sacks? As I mentioned, how bad? How can
it be worse? Like why not try something new? So
I understand it's befuddling. It's like I don't want to
be the guy who's watching like the middle of the series,
(26:32):
like the third season of Sons of Anarchy, where you're like,
where is this going? And then you get to the
final episode You're like, Okay, this all makes sense. Maybe
the Texans have a master plan that we're not privy to.
I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
They're back to back division champs, but still, what do
you think of Texans?
Speaker 2 (26:49):
We got one other question here real quick for your
rank before we let you go. You said you were
not born in nineteen eighty How.
Speaker 10 (26:55):
Old are you?
Speaker 11 (26:56):
Hairs? Why are you Why are you challenging me?
Speaker 13 (27:00):
I said, I I die my beard so I can
sit here and play younger on television.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
You're the after Mike's before you're after Mike's.
Speaker 11 (27:11):
It's a nice thing.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
It's getting in a two shot here. Let's get the
side by side. We've got these two guys here. It's
just for men.
Speaker 11 (27:18):
It could be who went to target and bought.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
That you need to be have the sand face.
Speaker 11 (27:23):
Look at that.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
You got the eyebrows too, which I think. I think
that's a nice touch. Frank, thank you very much. Let's
do this segment again. This has been greatly enjoyable to me.
Pro Day's rolling on across the country, that includes at
the University of Michigan. They got several players who could
hear their names called in Round one of the draft,
which is just thirty four short days away. One of
(27:47):
those names tight end Colston Loveland, who stood he didn't
sit with our Jeffrey Chidia.
Speaker 9 (27:53):
We're here with Colston Loveland and want to talk to
you about your experience. I know that you didn't work
out today, but how has the pre draft process been
going for you?
Speaker 5 (28:00):
It's been good. I had a little speed bump obviously
had shoulder surgery like late January, but it's been good.
Was training it first before then then just been rehabing since.
But I've been around the guys. It's going to be
back in Michigan to support the guys, for sure.
Speaker 9 (28:13):
I know you watch other guys go through this process
the first two years when you were in this program.
What's it been like for you to be in the
pro day thinking about how close you are to becoming
an NFL player.
Speaker 5 (28:22):
Yeah, it's crazy to think about the time flies, for sure,
but no, it's cool. I mean that's what it's all about. Obviously,
getting to the next level is super cool. Super proud
of everyone out here who came and competed. But yeah,
I'm just excited for what's ahead.
Speaker 9 (28:35):
So you haven't been able to do a lot of
stuff as far as performing for scouts, as far as
the workout part, but you put some great tape on
the last three years here. What do you think your
best attributes are for an NFL team that wants to
draft you.
Speaker 5 (28:45):
Yeah, I think my route running in my hands. I
think like the separation I create. So it's if you
watched the tape, I feel like I'm opening a good
amount of time. So I feel like that's probably my
biggest attribute.
Speaker 9 (28:56):
Now, I know you probably are looking at the maybe
some of the pre draft stuff and mock drafts, and
a lot of people talk about the Chargers need to
get tight end and you're ex head coaches coaching the Chargers,
and now how much do you think about that as
a possibility for you?
Speaker 5 (29:08):
Yeah, I mean it always is, you know. I don't
like to get too deep into those things because they're
just mocks, you know, and you won't we won't know
until we know. So, but it's cool. It's cool to
think about. I'm actually going on a visit to go
see them tuesday, so it'll be cool to see those
guys every night.
Speaker 9 (29:20):
Okay, And finally, what are you going to be doing
on draft Day?
Speaker 6 (29:24):
So I'll be at home.
Speaker 5 (29:24):
So I got to like my aunt and uncle's house,
who got like eighty like family members, you know, distant
family coming over. So we're just gonna have a good
time there, eat some food, celebrate.
Speaker 9 (29:33):
It's a big good time, Okay, man, Well, hey, good
luck to you and congratulations on the great career. Man,
Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
From a top tight end to one of the top
wide receivers in the NFL Draft. No, that's not him,
that's larrymy Tunsel. But we are going to talk to
Jaydon Higgins very soon. Are we gonn talking about Larry
ye tunseel too. I'm sure we'll get to that. We're
gonna get to all kinds of stuff. But Jayde Higgins,
I always stable hide receivers. Join us next on The Insiders.
(30:04):
Take a look at the numbers of the scouting combine
for Jaden Higgins. Four four seven forty yard dash. That's
pretty fast speed for a big man who also can jump,
he can catch. He also can be a great TV guest.
Welcome back to the Insiders. Tom Pellicero and Mike Garifolo,
joined right now by Jaden Higgins. Jayden, we are thirty
four days away from the NFL Draft. You'll soon know
(30:27):
where you're going. I'm sure you're zipping all over the country. Like,
what's it like being Jaden Higgins? Right now.
Speaker 14 (30:35):
I feel like it's definitely exciting, you know, going through
this process. You know, it's definitely something that I'm trying
to just take every day as a blessing day by day,
but just doing my best to my abilities for sure.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
Tom talked about zipping across the country a lot of
visits with teams. Who have you had a chance to
visit recently? How many total on the docket?
Speaker 15 (30:56):
Yeah, so far. I only went to one business so far.
Went to the Steelers last week. It was a good visit.
And then I got upcoming the Chargers.
Speaker 14 (31:06):
Seattle, the Vikings, and then also in New York as well,
so a little bit around.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
So all kinds of places across the country. Tell me
about that Steelers visit though, Mike Tomlin, he's a very
interesting guy. He is an intense guy in that setting
where he's very much trying to figure out, Okay, does
this guy fit into the Steelers culture? What was it
like meeting with him?
Speaker 15 (31:26):
It was awesome, man.
Speaker 14 (31:27):
I feel like, you know, he's definitely a down to
earth type of person. I'm really just talking to him,
getting to know him, and him getting to know me,
and really just talking about at.
Speaker 5 (31:35):
The end of the day.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
It was really cool though.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
Yeah, when I mean listen, I gather that these meetings
for you are really good ones because the more that
we pick up on you, the more of the teams
that you understand the game. I'm sure you have a
great connection with coaches when you're discussing the exend and
o's that you kind of played a little bit all
over the place and that the transition for you to
the next level. A lot of evaluators say should be
(31:58):
kind of like that.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Do you feel that way?
Speaker 3 (32:00):
I mean, do you feel like you're as pro ready
as it gets coming out of college.
Speaker 14 (32:04):
I mean, for sure, I give all the credits to
the my coaching staff back at Iowa State, just you know,
instelling those work habits in me and just making sure
I understand what I'm doing when I'm out there on
the field. I always got to be ready for my
opportunity and when it comes, just got to make the play.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
I looked back into tweet the Daniel Jeremiah draft expert
had last month so going into the combine process, and
he was saying, this is a fun cluster to sort
out at the wide receiver position. Trey Harris for bull
miss Jaden Higgins, Jack Besh from TCU, Tory Horton from
Colorado State. All four guys are big, athletic and provide
immediate impact. These are the conversations that go on in
(32:39):
draft rooms, right, which is, Hey, these guys all have
similar types of skill sets. We're looking for one of them.
Everyone's got to ask themselves which is the best ones.
So if you're making the pitch to the team a
bunch of other guys where they measure similarly, they run similarly,
why should somebody take you?
Speaker 14 (32:54):
You know, at the end of the day, I would
just say, you know I'm a consistent playmaker. You know
when I go out there, you know I'm gonna make
the play when when it comes to me. And then
even off the field, you know I'm a good person,
reliable leader, and just gonna help the team get better
when I step into the building.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
I mentioned that you know you kind of played all
over the place. You played, the X, you played, the
Z you play. I mean, where do you think your
most effective number one? What's the most fun spot on
the field for you to line up?
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Lineup?
Speaker 3 (33:20):
I guess what I'm asking is what is your favorite
letter of the football alphabet.
Speaker 6 (33:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 14 (33:27):
Really, I like to be moved around. You know, whoever
that ball is gonna come to me and I can
help the team win.
Speaker 15 (33:33):
That's what I want to be.
Speaker 14 (33:34):
You know, I'm a big receiver, outside receiver, but I
can play in the slot and dominating there against some
all the guys.
Speaker 15 (33:39):
So you know, whoever the team needs you to make
is I'm gonna be there.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
So the next five weeks, again, you got all these
visits lined up. Presumably you're also working out, trying to
fight a way to stay in shape. Here, just take
me through some kind of the psychology of what you're
going through here again, not only which of these teams
could eventually be your home. You don't have control over that.
So are you just handling the final phase of this process?
Speaker 15 (34:02):
Yeah, I think, just like you said, the biggest thing
is really, you know, focusing on football.
Speaker 6 (34:07):
Now.
Speaker 14 (34:07):
You know, I already ran the forty ended everything I
needed to do at the comments, So now we're getting
back into you know, football and making sure my skill
chaining is up to par and so I'm ready to
go and compete for my spot when I get to
the camp.
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Jayden, We're going to leave you with this you got
great hair, man, Like everywhere I look, I see it
right now. I'll look at the lettuce up there. Man,
do not take that for granted. Okay, your hair rankings
when it comes to the draft, I got to put
your way up there.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
I just want to give you a props on that
before we.
Speaker 6 (34:34):
Let you go.
Speaker 15 (34:35):
I appreciate it most definitely.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
Mike saying, do not take it for granted, because one
day you could look like Camp. That's the subtext of
what he was saying. Jayden, best the luck right there
on the level. He's sticking it out. He's gonna make
it here. Jayden, thanks a lot, man, best a lot.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
For sure, Thank you, saying to you guys, I always
want a Cardinals quarterback.
Speaker 4 (34:57):
Kyler Murray has twenty two games at least one passing
touchdown and one rushing rushing touchdown. That's the third most
since since entering the league in twenty nineteen. Pretty good.
The Cardinals spent free agency. They were pretty busy in
the early wave of free agency trying to build up
that team around him. That got Jacoby Brissett and there
(35:18):
to be his backup quarterback. The big one, of course,
is Josh swed who by the way, got my vote
for MVP of the Super Bowl. Coming over from the
Eagles to chase quarterbacks around, and they got some pretty.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
Good ones in the NFC West.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
Let's bring in our Omar Ruiz to talk about what
the Arizona Cardinals have been doing all right, Omar, what
has been the focus of the Cardinals free agency so far?
Speaker 16 (35:42):
Well, we saw that they upgraded their pass rush with
joshwed Dalvin Tomlinson. Obviously a big focus for Jonathan Gannon
was going to get those players that can really affect
the quarterback defensively. And then when you talk about offensively
with Kyler Murray, a lot of talk about continuity heading
into year three with Drewetsing as his offensive coordinator, Izzy
Wolfork his quarterback coach, trying to get Kyler Murray really
(36:06):
to play his best football in twenty twenty five. Year
one in that system was about establishing the system. Year
two was really trying to accentuate what the individual players
do best and revolve the game plan around that. But
when you look at Kyler Murray, year two with Marvin
Harrison junior, Michael Wilson is back, Greg Dortch's back, Trey McBride,
(36:26):
James Connor, all the talent around him is back to
help with the continuity and speaking to people in the building,
they're going to ask Kyler Moore, Kyler Murray to put
even more on his plate going forward. They really take
more command at the line of scrimmage, and that's whether
that's helping with protections with the offensive line, which last
year Judy was so incredibly banged up, so not a
(36:46):
lot of chemistry there, so Kyler can help there and
also give those double play calls to either keep the
defenses off balance or to help when they're mismatched on
the offensive line, putting it on Kyler telling him to
go win the game. They're looking for a big show
of improvement again from this Cardinals team who went from
four wins in twenty twenty three Jonathan Gannon's first year
(37:07):
there to eight wins last year, hoping for another big
jump into twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (37:11):
Well, we saw quite a bit of improvement.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
We're going all the way over to the East coast
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young after he got his starting
job back, he was benched and he got it back
in week eight, and then he finished with fifteen touchdowns
and six picks in his last ten starts, so certainly
marked improvement after the benching. Let's look at what they
did in free agency. They made a lot of moves.
(37:35):
They were definitely focused on shoring up their defense. The
defense finished last in the league in most of the
major categories. That is where most of their acquisition came from.
And of course jac Horn got the big extension. But omar,
what are they looking for Bryce Young to do to
continue his ascent?
Speaker 16 (37:55):
Yeah, you mentioned the fifteen touchdowns and six interceptions in
the ten games since he returned and became the starter
after the five game benching earlier in the year, and
they went four and six in those ten games. I
asked his head coach recently, Dave Canalis, what happened what
clicked with Bryce Young? And he said, to his credit,
he is somebody who has always thrived under pressure. And
(38:17):
when you look at the big picture of what was
happening with Bryce Young, he was playing for a head
coach and a general manager who did not draft him.
In some respects, you can argue that the early part
of his career was on the line. When he came
back in for those final ten games, so he thrived
under that pressure.
Speaker 2 (38:33):
They went four and six.
Speaker 16 (38:34):
Three of those wins came in overtime, and you saw
him play well down the stretch in those games to
help lead them in those pressure pack situations, responding to
the pressure in those ways, also going toe to toe
with the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, unfazed by
how good those teams weren't playing them down the stretch.
(38:54):
Obviously those were the Super Bowl participants. I talked to
his longtime personal quarterback coach Anny Hernandez about the focus
for Bryce Young going into year three and this offseason.
It's all about studying defenses and what their coordinators tendencies are,
what tree they might be from, which coaches they coached under,
in developing and also developing and studying the catalog of
(39:18):
individual defenders that they're going to face and what they're
tells what their tendencies might be. So obviously Bryce Young
focusing on his game, what the Carolina Panthers offense wants
to do in twenty five, but also what defenses and
defenders are trying to affect them going forward there to
build in his third season.
Speaker 4 (39:37):
Really encouraging signs from Bryce young in the second half
of last season. Omar, thank you very much. Enjoy your weekend.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
Jameis Winston loves to eat those ws and also capitalize them,
as he posts on social media a short time ago,
start spreading the news. Is that an apple? Yes, indeed
it is because Jameis Winston is now a New York Giant.
It's a two year, eight million dollar deal that is
backup quarterback money. It does not preclude the Giants for
making additional quarterback moves. Welcome back to the insiders, Tom Pillisio,
(40:08):
Judi Battisa, and Mike Garrofollo. Mike, what this seems to
be is it' team that had one quarterback on the
roster and Tommy DeVito. They knew they needed to add two.
A deal like this doesn't really change your trajectory. It
sounds like all options are made available here. No, they're
still in on Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 3 (40:26):
They are still toying with the idea of what to
do in the draft, whether at three or in a
trade up there to get to one. Although they may
have a tough time prying the Titans out of that spot.
But yeah, they needed bodies in that quarterback room.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
They had met with veterans.
Speaker 3 (40:41):
Some of these guys are gonna wind up sign it,
Like if Russell Wilson signed somewhere else, then you may
run out option. So locking in Jamis Winston starting to
get some quarterbacks in that room.
Speaker 4 (40:50):
In the meantime, this is going to be quite a
bit of fun for the beat writers because Jamis Winston
is one of the most entertaining people in the entire NFL.
But the line here, and I don't think we can
emphasize this enough, is this is not the last time
we're going to be discussing quarterbacks for the New York Giants.
This does not preclude them from doing basically anything else
in free agency or in the draft.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
So Jamis Winston last scene in a snow globe in
Cleveland goes to the Giants. The possible then that this
leads to Russell Wilson replacing him in Cleveland. Stay tuned.
We're not back till Monday. We're on social media. The
off season never ends. We'll see it on Monday for
the weekend. Everybody
Hosts And Creators
Marcas Grant
Adam Rank
Michael F. Florio
Kimmi Chex
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