March 14, 2022 • 34 mins
In this episode, Rhett Lewis is joined by insiders Sara Walsh and Judy Battista! Sara and Judy explain why they weren't surprised by Tom Brady's announcement to come back for another season. They also share the likelihood that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reach their second Super Bowl in three years and then they give their sentiments towards the individual who purchased Tom Brady's 'final touchdown ball' for $518,000 the day before Brady's announcement. Sara also provides insight on where Deshaun Watson could land and Judy shares why the NFL could suspend him. Judy finishes up sharing how the Christian Kirk deal will impact other wide receivers around the league and then Rhett and Judy look at the best free agents available.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
I'm Brett Louis and this is NFL Inside Report. He's back,
Tom Brady, just like he never left. Now coming back
to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after just a short couple
of weeks of retirement, back in the fold, back with
the Bucks and also back with us to talk all
(00:30):
about it. Two of our favorites here on NFL Inside Report,
Judy Batista and Sarah Walsh and guys, great to be
here with you. Um, Sarah, So Tom's back and this
guys and Judy, I want you to hear this too,
because it's time for Sarah to take a victory lap.
(00:50):
Just an observation. When Tom Brady walked off the field
last night, there was not a moment's pause. If you're
gonna walk away from football after two decades, there was
never this moment that I saw out of him where
he stopped pause, looked around, just ran out their business
like and if you go back and think about Drew Brees,
there was that moment where he was taking it all in.
Brady wasn't taking it all in. He ran off the
(01:10):
field to me like a man that would be back.
Thank you, because for the last for the last forty days,
I felt really stupid, and I'm like, maybe I had
a bad Like it wasn't inside information, but when people
would say to me, what is your gut say and
I and I was like, my gut doesn't say that
(01:32):
he's done. He just threw forty three touchdowns. He came
a very long field goal away from going to the
conference championship game. I specifically remember that the game was
so crazy at the end, but I specifically remember as
soon as it ended, I was like, fine, Brady, and
just keep your eyes on him and watch what he does.
But I was even surprised about two weeks priors when
those articles started to come out that he might be done.
(01:54):
And I remember when they started to come out, and
I'm like, he might be done. Like we just kept
talking to him all season long about how long is
he going to go? Because his year was so good
and it was just like such a quick turn at
the end that didn't really make sense to me. Um,
I mean, the family stuff makes sense. But yeah, that
was my read, and like we can all have bad reads, right,
so for the last forty days, I was like, you
(02:15):
didn't read the situation, read the room while Sarah, But
so thank you for noticing that because I felt silly,
and now I don't feel silly. Well, and look, I
think that we should we should have expected this because
Tom Brady has been one of the very best in well,
I mean best of all time in working through his
progression right finding the open receiver. That's essentially what he
did here. He had to go through the whole progression
(02:37):
of being retired, came back to the open receiver, which
was obviously the Tampa Bay Bucks who had a need
clearly for him to come back at quarterback and all
the talk about leaving the light on for him like
it was Motel six. Um, and they did, and now
he's back in Tampa. Judy, what was your reaction when
you first saw the tweet? Um? I had to like
double check and make sure it wasn't from a you know,
a fake account, right, yes, exactly. Pay. I read it once.
(03:01):
I checked to make sure Tom Brady okay, yeah, it's
got the verified blue check. And then I read it
to my family. We were sitting here watching the selection Sunday,
and uh, I read it and I said, I think
Tom Brady just announced he's coming back on Twitter. And
then you know, and then it just exploded. Honestly, I
was not surprised, first of all, because I was most
surprised that he retired. Like Sarah said, like I was
(03:23):
at that game too, he did not look like a
man who was bidding farewell to the NFL. And then
he started I don't want to say it was that checking,
but like you, you could tell he was having second
thoughts almost immediately, right like, well we'll see you never
say never, you never because there and so you're sort
of like, oh, he's going, you know. And I had
heard all the things towards the end of the year
too that maybe he um, you know, was frustrated in Tampa,
(03:46):
and maybe the relationship in Tampa was was not working out,
and so maybe he would come back to go elsewhere.
That seemed unrealistic because why would the box ever do that? Right,
So when he said I'm coming back to the books,
it was like, yeah, hey, that makes sense. If he's
coming back, it's it's gonna be the Bucks. It's it
was always strange to meet you. Tom Brady has never
(04:06):
struck me as somebody who would leave. When he was
still playing at the level he played at last year,
he was he could have been the league in VP
last year and and as as Sarah just said, you know,
came this close to go to the conference championship games.
So to me, he's one of those guys you know
you're gonna have to drag him off the field or
(04:27):
he's going to have to sense that he is declining dramatically,
and neither of those things was the case. Or say,
duty you come back, you win it all and then
you might drop it that right, I mean the fact
that he said fun finished business, right, Yeah, if he
could have done that a year ago and gone out
that way, and it just seems so anticlimactic when you
(04:48):
played as well as you played, right, um, right, and
I think you know, if you come back and win
it all, then yeah, I think you think about doing
it that way, right, And I mean, look, he's he's
a smart guy, right. I mean he had to have
looked at what up until the roster last year, Right,
the first year he was there, they had tremendous injury
walk like practically no injuries. Last year caught up with them.
They had a ton of injuries. So he has to
(05:10):
be looking at that landscape and saying, like, you know,
hope we were this close and we had all those injuries, like,
you know, if we can get any part of this
roster together, we're gonna be in the mix. He also
has to be looking at the NFC, which, let's face
it is, you know, is not the a f C,
no doubt. Chris Godwin, by the way, chief among those
key injuries from a year ago. Get to Chris Godwin
(05:32):
here in just a little bit. Um, but I did
want to hit I mean, and thank goodness that we
all didn't have to hear on on you know, Sunday
and Monday. Continue trying to read the lips of Tom
Brady talking to Christiano Ronaldo at the Manchester United game
where you know, apparently he sat down with the Glazer family, right,
and maybe that's where all this kind of started, or
(05:52):
at least came to a culmination, um, you know, talking
about all that where he was, you know, and Ronaldo
asked him, are you finished? And he goes and then
we didn't really know what was said. Afterwards, Now we
know and he's like, yeah, no, I'm coming back. Um.
And then let's let me get to that part here
because Judy mentioned it. Sarah, what was your read on
any potential frustration or growing sour of the relationship that
(06:16):
there might have been between Tom and Bruce and and
Byron and that whole triumvirant of offensive masterminds down there
in Tampa. You know, I didn't really see that. But
I also think, like, if you go back to even
last year, again, I'm not seeing the stuff that's behind
closed doors. But I didn't get that sense. Um. You know,
when you go back to last year when Tom, you know,
(06:37):
had a bad game, people were freaking out that Bruce
would be like, yeah, that pick was on him because
you never heard that before, because Belichick would never say
something like that. And Tom is still human, even though
he's the greatest of all time, right, so there there
were interceptions that were on Tom and Bruce would say
that and people would freak out and go, oh my god,
like can you believe he would say that to Tom?
(06:58):
And I'm like, um, I think Tom's pretty realistic and
no one's more competitive than Tom. So I don't think
Tom is the kind of person that's throwing someone under
the bus, like if he feels like he messed it up,
and so so much was made about if you even
think about that, and then they went on to win
a super Bowl, So I didn't I didn't really put
a lot of stock in that because I do believe
like if Tom wants something changed, Tom would get it changed.
Right If if Tom didn't like the way Byron was
(07:18):
doing something or didn't like the way they were calling something,
I think that they would get a change. Now you're
you're dealing with high profile people, people that have been
successful at high levels, right, and are you gonna butt
heads and you're gonna clash on some things? Like? I
think that's a realistic. I think that that's normal. I
don't think that it was. It was something crazy, but
it's just like everything always gets twisted and it has
(07:39):
to be more than that, right. I also don't think
that Tom Brady is going to just quit football because
he's clashing with Bruce on something, right, Like, He's not
gonna do that, Like, it's just he's gonna go when
he wants to go, do it the way. Yeah, And
I really think you know, the one thing you hear
about Bruce constantly is he's a truth teller, sometimes too
to the fault of like the PR. The PR guys
(07:59):
would sa, hey, we wish he wasn't so honest, and
you know personally, like I would want to play for
somebody like that. I would want to play for somebody
or work for somebody that levels with you and doesn't
tell you what you want to hear. And you know,
if anything, if they've had tough conversations, are hard conversations,
I feel like they probably both level with each other.
And you know, Bruce knows that, like this thing doesn't
go without Tom. And I think you also saw them,
(08:21):
you know, nobody really believed it when he was like, yeah,
I'm good with playing Gavitt and Kyle trash, like no
one really believed that. But you also didn't see them.
You didn't see them like really like going out there
and making moves for other things. And when we were
at the Combine two weeks ago, I think we were
talking about this there right, like if you wanted to
move on, you sort of would have said you moved on,
and that clearly, you know, even to your point about
the Glazers meeting with him at that Manchester United game,
(08:44):
obviously these conversations were taking place back then at the
Combine and to the Bucks credit. Again, Jason and Bruce
didn't lie, like they didn't say yet we're going after
other people and Tom's moved on. I mean, they were
kind of obvious about what was going on. And when
that happened, I'm like, Okay, well this isn't this isn't
coming out of out of nowhere right there, not saying
I mean Bruce even said if it's August and Tom
wants to come back, he'll come back. Now your story
(09:05):
pursuing yeah as a starter, So you're not going out
and pursuing DeShawn Watson and saying, hey, come here. But
just by the way, if Tom wants to like kick
you out come August, you're out of there. Like, so
this has all been it's all been going on, and
maybe Tom just needed a reset. And like you said,
like this seemed like a great idea the week after
you announced it, and then maybe it wasn't as great
of an idea three weeks from then, and then four
weeks from them you're like, I feel great, Like I
(09:28):
just had a great season, um and things change. But
I personally don't put like stock in that story about
the headbutting thing as much as it was, which isn't
to say that they never putted heads, but I don't
think more so than the normal amount. By the way,
you just go tell the Hannak over there, pr just
to step up and deal with the honesty. Okay, enough
of the okay, hey, but for the media it's so
(09:54):
great center of and maybe they can't. He does what
he wants, which is why he's so great. Yeah, no doubt,
but does what he wants, not mechanics one of the guys, correct,
Judy the continuity, um now Bruce, Brady, Byron all back
for a third season together. And we saw what season
(10:16):
two really started to look like when everybody was healthy.
They kind of kept trying to keep it together down
the stretch. But I'm expecting nothing less than what we
got at the start of last year. No, I think
the big question is, first of all, what will God
was condition when he comes back. That's that's the big one, UM.
And then how much more they can keep intact because
(10:37):
they have a load of free agents. They're not all
going to be coming back. We already know some of
them who I mean, Ali Marpetto is retired and is
going to stay retired. Um. And Alex Coppa, the other
guard is is already Cincinnati cincinat Cincinnati right so UM,
so we know it's not going to be intacted. I
(10:57):
thought the big thing last night was like as soon
as Brady said coming back, like five minutes later, it
was like, then, imagine that's so. I think that's It's
almost like they talked duty ahead. It's like the mind
meld thing. Um, you know, I think that's a key thing.
You're right that the offense was at a different level
(11:18):
at the start of last year when everybody was healthy,
and then obviously as the injuries took a hole, you know,
it tailed off, and certainly we saw that at the end.
But um, I think assuming that Chris Godwin comes back
in anything approaching Chris Godwin form, and you've got Mike
Evans and you you fill in some holes on the
offensive line, Gronk, I have to think there's one right, right,
(11:41):
you have to think. I mean, Gronk had never shut
the door on continuing to play. He's been working out
in Tampa. I mean, come on, you got to get
him back. And can you get Leonard four Nette back.
You know he's going to have a market. But I
think if they can keep as much as they can together,
then yeah, I think I think they're going to play
at a high level. And don't forget this. You know
(12:02):
this division well it did look to be wide open
until Tom Brady came back, and now it doesn't spear
to be that wide open um at all. And the
to me, the only question then is does you know
to the Saints where the Panthers get to Shawn Watson,
because then that becomes the team that maybe can challenge
the box. But who knows, you know, and that that
was something we will discuss here um in just a
(12:24):
couple of moments. Last one here in the box free
agents that you're that you're looking at their Sarah you
know grown for Net Sue, Jason, Pierre Paul, that that
whole crew. I mean, you anticipate almost of those guys
getting getting a good look to come back. Here. I
brought up this point on NFL Network. You know, we
want to go through this whole list of Kim Tom
(12:46):
get his entire band back together. But we also saw
like he's Tom Brady and he can have success without
the flaggiest names. He did that in New England without
the flashiest receiver. So here's what we know right now.
Let's just say he gets Gronk back, because I think
it'd be more surprising if he didn't come fact than
he did. Right, So let's say get strong back. He's
got a Pro Bowl Hall of Famer and Rob Bronkowski.
He's got two Pro Bowl receivers in Chris Godwin and
(13:07):
Mike Evans, and then you know Leonard Fournette. That would
be a big win for them if he can get back,
because he does so much and when it comes to
pass catching as far as running it. But look at
the end of the year. Last year, he was during
game winning touchdowns to Cyril Grayson who never played college football.
He threw a game winning touchdown to Brashad Berryman. We
weren't talking about any of those guys in weeks one
through ten of the season. I mean, it doesn't matter.
(13:28):
He'll go find someone on the practice squad and he'll
throw them a game win he touchdown. I mean, that
is the difference between Tom Brady and everybody else that
has ever played this game. So I think especially as
we look at free agency and you look how scarce
the quarterback options are when you look at the list
of who's available. I mean there's teams that are in
a real need and the Bucks just went out and
for the second time got the greatest of all time.
I feel like everything else at this point where is
(13:51):
icing on the cake. They'll make it work. The Bucks
are gonna do everything they can to make them happy.
You better believe that, because they were definitely promised this
made to him to get him to come back. But
whoever is on that roster on any given game day,
I mean it's Tom Brady and so you have a chance.
I think you're right. And the last question here on
the Brady um deal, because somebody got a raw deal.
(14:13):
Somebody paid a whole lot of money. Been Tom Brady's
last touchdown pass thousand dollars. In fact, I think at
that point I thought he was getting a bargain because
there was a lot of talk to that ball could
have gone for north of a million bucks. Is that
guy get a refund? Like? What is that? And I
just say, this is kind of harsh. I'm having trouble
(14:36):
working up angst for someone who can spend five thousand
dollars on a football. Okay, it didn't work out. You
spent five hundred dollars on a football. You probably have
another five hundred thousand dollars laying around somewhere. I'm like duty,
I'm a duty, she's not she's not wrong, I'm not
like I'm not a memorabilial person in that thing. It'd
(14:57):
be cool, but I think the lesson learned, like for
everyone that that's in that situation. And how many times,
by the way, this year did the Box have situations
where they gave away every single game Week one. I
can't even imagine the bios at the box PR guys again,
shut up buckx PR have to put together like every
week we get a list and this will start week
one of the records that Tom's going to break during
(15:17):
the games, which they're all his at this point. So
every ball that they give to anyone in the stands
is like some record or it's some miless. They have
to retrieve it. I don't have to go retreat it.
They have to pull deals, they have to whatever. So
like lesson, learn whatever ball your handed, like, you don't like,
just be appreciative it to Tom Brady football And I
don't Maybe they stop that all together next year. Maybe
Mike Evans because he's the one that's given them all away,
(15:39):
just kind of like hoards these things and then like
turns it into like a scholarship fund, because that's something
like that, Mike Evans. But yeah, right, I mean, maybe
he should think about that before he's like tossing him
up into the stands. But I did think of that though.
R at like that guy missed the mark by just
like a couple of hours. Yeah, it happened on like Sunday,
(15:59):
right or Saturday, Saturday, something like like a couple of
hours before. Yeah, that I mean. I also I would say, like,
you know, you gotta check in with your football reporters
who were already having doubts that Tom was really retired
before you invest in Tom's last football no doubt. And
(16:19):
while Tom might be the biggest piece of the quarterback
puzzle to fall into place here, there are still many
left to go. One Deshaun Watson. We did get another one,
though Mitchell Robinski has found a new home. Deshaun Watson
still looking or other teams looking for him. We'll figure
(16:40):
out which way that goes right after this. But the
free agency frenzy is off in running back here on
(17:00):
NFL Inside Report, Duty, Batista and Sarah Walsh are with us.
Talked about one of the biggest pieces to the quarterback
puzzle at the top there, Tom Brady coming back to
the Bucks. Sounds like Mitchell Trabiski is expected to sign
a two year deal and expected to be the starter
in Pittsburgh. Aaron Rodgers back in Green Bay. Obviously, the
two big trades we've seen thus far, Russell Wilson the
(17:21):
mega deal to go to Denver, leaving Seattle the only
home he's ever known in the NFL. Carson Wentz also
one and done in Indianapolis and now shipped off to
the Washington Commanders. And so all attention really turning to
Deshaun Watson, who was cleared of criminal charges this past week,
obviously still facing some civil suits and potential NFL discipline.
(17:44):
But Sarah, as you're looking at the sweepstakes, we've talked
to Jane Slater has talked a lot about the Saints
being all in on Deshaun Watson. The Panthers made moves
and overtures towards for the to the Texans to get
Deshaun watching services last year and couldn't get it done.
Where do you sit on all the Deshaun Watson potential
trade talk here? I think he's gonna go to the
(18:06):
NFC South. Now, whether that's the Panthers are the Saints,
because I think both of those makes most Both of
them makes sense for a lot of reasons. Right. If
you want to go on to the Panthers side of things, Um,
they're obviously interested. They were interested, as you said a
season ago. Geographically it makes sense for him there. He
played at Clemson. Um, so that's that's in the vicinity.
(18:26):
He's from Georgia, you know. And if you're him and
what's unfolded for the last couple of years, I mean,
I'm sure. Look he's he's loved. They're beloved, especially after
winning a national championship at Clemson. If you're him, you're like,
I need to start over. I need a fresh start, um,
going back to my roots. Like, maybe that's that's the solution.
You look at the Saint side of things, I mean,
(18:47):
this is an organization that at points last year and
I did a couple of their games on Fox in
the NFL Fox broadcast, and their defense is really good.
I mean, their defense can carry them in certain phases
and and they're missing that piece, right, which is what
the I'm not comparing him to Tom Brady, but had
a very good defense for a long time right, you're
just missing this piece. And and there's certainly talented players
(19:10):
on that Saints team that if they get the right guy,
right time, right fit, I think things change real quickly
in New Orleans. And to your point, you know this
division was wide open a second ago. It is not
wide open when you bring in Tom Brady. But if
you put him, who is very talented, on that Saints team,
I think it changes things real quickly for them. Obviously,
(19:32):
there's so much to be weighed on what's going to
happen suspension wise, but I think what we see is
this trend of there are not great quarterbacks out there.
There's not a lot of guys that are. I don't
want to say great quarterbacks because you're playing the NFL,
you're a very good quarterbacks. Separation between the guys at
the top and everyone else, there's just not a lot
of guys. There's not the very very elite once you
(19:53):
get to the NFL. And I think there are teams
out there that thinks, to Shawan is that can be
that for them And if if he can get cleared
or get past or or however the league is going
to handle this situation, there's teams that are like, hey,
we want to win. I mean that's that's the reality
of it. And you can moral wise agree with that
disagree with that. But you know how quickly winning makes
(20:13):
people forget anything. I mean, we've seen, I can, I
can give you example of case after case after case
in this league. So again that's not an indictment on
personal beliefs on whatever has happened, but teams want to win,
and there are not. When you look at the quarterbacks
available at this point, I mean, who's available that's that's
still like a big name that's exciting people, There's there's
not a lot of those guys out there. I think
(20:33):
Jimmy g everyone's kind of looking to see where he's
going to go. But when you look at the market
that's out there, teams are going to jump on him,
even knowing that there could be a suspension coming. Right.
But I do think that it's one of those two
in the NFC South that he would make sense for
both of those teams. How badly do they want them?
What are they willing to part with to get them
one of them? I think I would be surprised. I
(20:54):
can't imagine him going to anywhere outside of those two
good thought. Certainly I think Seattle may or may not
be in the mix as well. Um and uh, you know,
so that it's definitely one of the biggest pieces to
follow here as the trade talks kind of kind of
continue on the quarterback front there now Judy from a
discipline standpoint on the NFL level, the you know, the
(21:15):
NFL's investigation obviously still ongoing, has been going on for
quite some time. Right now that we know that he
is clear of criminal charges, at least for now, civil
suits still going on. Like, do you foresee the NFL
holding withholding any potential discipline until although civil suits are resolved.
I think they would like to have as much information
(21:36):
as they can get. Look, there's no timeline for the
NFL to do it. They don't have to do anything
until he's right. I mean, he's clear to play now.
But we're in the off season right We're how how
many days away from opening days, so they have plenty
of time. Their investigation has been ongoing all this time.
He is do We're taking this on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday,
(21:59):
he is due to get of depositions in the civil cases,
so we'll get a little bit more information. Um, I mean,
I certainly expect the NFL to take some action, some
disciplinary action against Shaun Laton. They have done that before
in players who have not been charged criminally. UM. They
did it with Ben Roethlisberger, probably most famously. UM, they
(22:22):
suspended him for six games, it was reduced to four.
They didn't did it with James Winston as well. So
I certainly think that they are going to suspend him
for behavior that well, it may not rise to the
level of a criminal charge. UM has certainly you know, Um,
it's certainly unseemly at best. UM, And you know, I
(22:42):
would expect that there'll be some discipline. But listen, the
teams that are interested have surely factored that in right.
The fact of the matter is, this is a play
for the long term. He's twenty six years old. Setting
aside the baggage and the off the field issues, the
very serious off the field issues. He's a tough five
quarterback when he's on the field. I mean, he just is.
(23:02):
And he's twenty six. This is a decision for the
long term. He could be your quarterback for the next
dozen fifteen years. So, UM, whatever team makes the move,
These teams that are interested in the Saints, the Panthers,
and you know, who knows who else that we might
know about. Um, these are long range decisions. They know
that there's probably going to be a suspension this year.
(23:24):
They know there might be a PR hit, you know,
to whatever degree. Certainly I think there would probably be
less of a PR hit in the Carolinas where Deshaun
Watson is beloved. But they're they're factoring all of that
in when they look at the landscape. I mean, nobody
is naive here about this, and they're and they're thinking, like, look,
as Sarah said, like winning uh smooths over an awful
(23:48):
lot of things. People are willing to give second chances
for one thing. Um, certainly if he pays his debt,
people are willing to give second chances. And then winning
glosses over a lot. And if you're gonna Deshaun Watson
in and they're gonna start winning a lot, like, people
will move past it, and they'll probably move past it
fairly quickly, probably right uh. And look as we switch
(24:11):
gears here, it really feels like the Jaguars are moving
past the urban Meyer tenure very quickly by trying to
change the narrative in terms of building this team by
spending a whole bunch of cash GM Trent Bulky with
head coach Doug Peterson into here getting set for his
(24:31):
first season coming up this year. I mean, as we
sit here on this Monday afternoons you said, recording this
podcast here they have are expected to ink deals with
Brandon Sheriff, a pro bowler in five of his last
years the guard for the Washington Commanders, defensive tackle fully
Fought Akassi, who has quickly become a really valuable piece
(24:53):
in this league as a nose tackle. Foyero Louikan who
led the league and tackles yougo, has been a big
play machine for the Atlanta foul against three years forty
five million, can go up to forty six and a half.
And then Christian Kirk getting it absolutely monster deal four
years worth seventy two max value of eighty four. I
think the guarantees have come down to something like thirty
(25:14):
seven million and guarantees for Kirk, but that is still
an astronomical number for a player you know, who's been good,
um and explosive at times in Arizona, but was maybe
like the third wide receiver, you know, they're in Arizona
and now getting paid wide receiver one money. What do
you make all this new money going out in Jacksonville. Well, look,
first of all, I hope they hit on all of
(25:35):
these things, because we've sort of seen the Jaguars do
this periodically in the past. And they did it actually
the year that they made the run to the a
f C Championship game and we're how many minutes away
from from beating the Patriots. Um, they spent a lot
of money in free agency that year and and they
hit and it was great. They have obviously staggered along
since then, so you sort of hope that they're all
(25:57):
of these moves pay off. Look, the Brendan Sheriff one
is a good move. They knew they had to protect.
That means they franchise tag their left tackle. They've got
a you know, a top level guard in there. They
have to protect Trevor Lawrence. They have to build around
this jewel of a quarterback who you know, just got
destroyed last year. Um, not entirely his fault, and UM,
(26:20):
you just don't want to waste you know, you don't
want to waste his early years, especially when he's on
the relatively cheap rookie deal. You want to put as
many pieces around him as you can. So they're clearly
doing that. They clearly think Christian Kirk gives them, um,
you know, gives him a solid target. Uh. Presumably d J.
Chark is going to land elsewhere. He was a really
(26:40):
good wide receiver. Um. And and they're shoring up the
defense to which they needed to do so on paper. Look,
they've got the money, they're going to have the draft pick, Like,
this is what you want to do. You want to
put pieces around Trevor Lawrence because you just don't want him,
you know, struggling the way he struggled last year. Yeah,
and looking at the Kirk deal um as a precursor
(27:01):
for what we might see, you know, for wide receiver money. Um,
what Davante Adams's crew do you think doing right now,
who has already said that he's not going to play
on the franchise tag that's worth twenty mill I mean,
he's gonna be million dollar receiver at this point. I
have to thay, let's look at it from the other point.
I mean, first of all, wide receivers have to be thrilled.
Right on the other side, teams like the Green Bay
(27:21):
Packers must be like, what on what are we doing here? Um?
I mean, you know, it's just got that much harder.
And I mean obviously, Davante Addams is going to command,
you know, a boatload of money and he deserves everybody
of it, and you've got to do it because you
have to keep him there with Aaron Rodgers. So I mean, yeah,
(27:43):
that I have to think that general managers around the
league are looking at those numbers very closely on and
saying like really like yeah, and looks same for Chris Godwin,
you know, and Tampa was playing on the second straight
franchise tag. You know that's going to complicate things to
get him back now with with d and with Genten
whatever money. Yeah, they really wanted to get him under
(28:03):
a long term deal. So yes, it's going to things.
But but you know, hey, I mean good for the players,
good for Christian Current if if you can get the money,
get it, and good for the players. Yeah. Um. And
you know, addition to Davante Adams, the Packers also they
released the Darius Smith, so they saved some money there,
but brought back to Andre Campbell, who was one of
(28:25):
the most phenomenal pickups. Last year you played for just
two million bucks. Was an all pro. Uh. He now
got a big money deal, as did Preston Smith. So
second deal for Preston Smith as a free agent in
Green Bay. Remember it was Preston who was like one
of like the presidents and Darius right like. This is
the part of this new wave of spending in Green
Bay for free agents, something that not typically been done there.
(28:47):
So there are still some huge type of premier players
still left on this on the top three agents list.
As you go over to NFL dot com, check out
the one NFL free agents that Greg Rosenthal puts together
their top on that list, Saints left tackle Toron Armstead Man,
I know the Saints love to have him back, but
he's gonna get some huge money. Quick thought on what
(29:10):
might work as a destination there to well if the
Saints can't hold on to him, I think the Miami
Dolphins would be a great fit. I think the Miami
Dolphins have to try try really hard to give him
because that's another team that had a dreadful offensive line.
I think they were graded football folks, and they great
at them as the worst offensive line in the league.
Which is saying something because we've seen some bad offensive
(29:32):
lines and they've got to do whatever they can to
help to and they gotta they gotta at least give
him the opportunity to succeed, just so they can get
a read on him. You know, he would protect his
front side to his left handed, so he would protect
the front side there. That would be a great fit.
They need to invest a lot in the offensive line
problem there in Miami's that they've invested a lot of
(29:52):
high draft picks on offensive lineman Austin Jackson, Leah Miikenberg's
Robert hunt Um. And you know, for whatever reason, I
still need need a big money player like that, lots
of money to spend them. So I can see the
Colts also being in on Toronto Armstead who need let's
tackle um, they need a quarterback the Colts. That's kind
of the first part, let's maybe worried part. Jess Jackson
(30:15):
is free agent number two on the list. It sounds
like a reunion with the Patriots is not in the cards,
So his name has been linked with the Chargers, who
have been really super aggressive this offseason, which is really fun.
They are another team right with the quarterback who's still
on the rookie deal. So you've got all this money
to play around with, and you want to put pieces
around justin Herbert obviously because he's fabulous. Um. And actually
(30:40):
Derwin James again, this is Monday afternoon where we're taping this,
and Derwin James tweeted before the like googly eyes emoji
and that sort of sent Twitter, you know, into a
like what is coming? What is it? What's that mean?
What do you know? Um? So we'll see it. But
I like the moves the Charges have made agressive, and
I think that's a natural fit for them. Speaking what
did you know von Miller with those tweets about going
(31:03):
back to Denver? So he was the one who knew
Russell Wilson was coming to Denver. We're like, oh, okay,
because it's like you would you have said that if
you didn't know Russel Wilson was going, No kidding, and
so like, if not going back to the Rams the
Broncos makes perfect sense, right, Yes, those are the only
(31:25):
two places I can imagine him going. Frank Like, I mean,
if it's if the Rams can't manage to keep him,
then I assume he goes to Denver. And that's great.
Chandler Jones in the NFC West has been an absolute force,
has led the league in sacks before and even if
he is not still you know, at the very top
or nine percent of whatever he is now is still
(31:46):
you know, a huge piece of a team's defensive rotation
there in terms of getting after the quarterback. Yeah, when
he plays every game at the season, he averages double
digit sacks those seasons. So when he's healthy, he is
incredible productive. I think last year he forced five quarterback
turnovers by with quarterback pressures, which is pretty amazing. Um,
(32:07):
I have to thank Buffalo takes a long look at
Chandler Jones. We we saw unfortunately for the Bills, they've
got practically everything else in place, but we saw they
could not get the quarterback when they absolutely had to
get to the quarterback in the playoffs last year. Um,
they need pass rush and that seems to be a
natural fit again, right, I mean, he's in his thirties,
and maybe he's not top top, top, top level pass
(32:30):
rusher anymore, but pretty good, pretty good and pretty productive.
And the Bills are built to win right now, so
it doesn't matter that he's thirty whatever. Yeah, and would
be an upgrade over Jerry Hughes, who has done some
really great things in Buffalo. But it's also thirty four,
a little bit younger for Chandler Jones, maybe a little
bit more productive, probably a little bit more money, um,
but still that's that's the price you gotta pay when
(32:52):
the free agency frenzy is running. And Judy uh Sarah,
you guys were fantastic, Thanks so much for spending some time.
Let's really appreciate it. Great to be with you. Yeah,
all right, back here with you on NFL Inside Report.
Just as we were literally talking about j C. Jackson
(33:14):
and a potential move to the l A Chargers there
with Judy Batista. As is the case here in this
week of free agency frenzy, things happened by the second
and it sounds like the Chargers are in fact expected
to sign former Patriot cornerback j. C. Jackson. Will be
a big money deal that according to NFL network insider
Ian Rappaport, to which our Daniel Jeremiah, our lead a
(33:38):
draft analyst and color analysts for the Chargers radio broadcast,
says that this is huge will allow last year's second
round pick and stud corner of Sante Samuel Jr. To
kick inside in terms of a slot cornerback role. So
the Chargers upgrade the secondary and then of course you
know they had the trade for Khalil Mack as well,
So a lot of upgrades happening to that Chargers defense
(34:00):
right now here in l A. And that's gonna do
it for this episode of NFL Inside Report. Thanks so
much for being with us here today. Reminder to rate review,
download our podcast and wherever you get your pods, the
I Heart Radio app, the Apple podcast app. We certainly
appreciate all of your support here and we will check
back with you perhaps later this week as the Free
(34:21):
Agency News Lawrence again, thanks so much for being with us.
For our producers Thomas Warren and Tim Paracca, I'm your host,
Red Lewis. We'll catch you next time. NFL Inside Report
is the production of the NFL and partnership with I
Heart Radio. For more official podcasts from the NFL, visit
the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
get your podcasts.
I'm Brett Louis and this is NFL Inside Report. He's back,
Tom Brady, just like he never left. Now coming back
to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after just a short couple
of weeks of retirement, back in the fold, back with
the Bucks and also back with us to talk all
(00:30):
about it. Two of our favorites here on NFL Inside Report,
Judy Batista and Sarah Walsh and guys, great to be
here with you. Um, Sarah, So Tom's back and this
guys and Judy, I want you to hear this too,
because it's time for Sarah to take a victory lap.
(00:50):
Just an observation. When Tom Brady walked off the field
last night, there was not a moment's pause. If you're
gonna walk away from football after two decades, there was
never this moment that I saw out of him where
he stopped pause, looked around, just ran out their business
like and if you go back and think about Drew Brees,
there was that moment where he was taking it all in.
Brady wasn't taking it all in. He ran off the
(01:10):
field to me like a man that would be back.
Thank you, because for the last for the last forty days,
I felt really stupid, and I'm like, maybe I had
a bad Like it wasn't inside information, but when people
would say to me, what is your gut say and
I and I was like, my gut doesn't say that
(01:32):
he's done. He just threw forty three touchdowns. He came
a very long field goal away from going to the
conference championship game. I specifically remember that the game was
so crazy at the end, but I specifically remember as
soon as it ended, I was like, fine, Brady, and
just keep your eyes on him and watch what he does.
But I was even surprised about two weeks priors when
those articles started to come out that he might be done.
(01:54):
And I remember when they started to come out, and
I'm like, he might be done. Like we just kept
talking to him all season long about how long is
he going to go? Because his year was so good
and it was just like such a quick turn at
the end that didn't really make sense to me. Um,
I mean, the family stuff makes sense. But yeah, that
was my read, and like we can all have bad reads, right,
so for the last forty days, I was like, you
(02:15):
didn't read the situation, read the room while Sarah, But
so thank you for noticing that because I felt silly,
and now I don't feel silly. Well, and look, I
think that we should we should have expected this because
Tom Brady has been one of the very best in well,
I mean best of all time in working through his
progression right finding the open receiver. That's essentially what he
did here. He had to go through the whole progression
(02:37):
of being retired, came back to the open receiver, which
was obviously the Tampa Bay Bucks who had a need
clearly for him to come back at quarterback and all
the talk about leaving the light on for him like
it was Motel six. Um, and they did, and now
he's back in Tampa. Judy, what was your reaction when
you first saw the tweet? Um? I had to like
double check and make sure it wasn't from a you know,
a fake account, right, yes, exactly. Pay. I read it once.
(03:01):
I checked to make sure Tom Brady okay, yeah, it's
got the verified blue check. And then I read it
to my family. We were sitting here watching the selection Sunday,
and uh, I read it and I said, I think
Tom Brady just announced he's coming back on Twitter. And
then you know, and then it just exploded. Honestly, I
was not surprised, first of all, because I was most
surprised that he retired. Like Sarah said, like I was
(03:23):
at that game too, he did not look like a
man who was bidding farewell to the NFL. And then
he started I don't want to say it was that checking,
but like you, you could tell he was having second
thoughts almost immediately, right like, well we'll see you never
say never, you never because there and so you're sort
of like, oh, he's going, you know. And I had
heard all the things towards the end of the year
too that maybe he um, you know, was frustrated in Tampa,
(03:46):
and maybe the relationship in Tampa was was not working out,
and so maybe he would come back to go elsewhere.
That seemed unrealistic because why would the box ever do that? Right,
So when he said I'm coming back to the books,
it was like, yeah, hey, that makes sense. If he's
coming back, it's it's gonna be the Bucks. It's it
was always strange to meet you. Tom Brady has never
(04:06):
struck me as somebody who would leave. When he was
still playing at the level he played at last year,
he was he could have been the league in VP
last year and and as as Sarah just said, you know,
came this close to go to the conference championship games.
So to me, he's one of those guys you know
you're gonna have to drag him off the field or
(04:27):
he's going to have to sense that he is declining dramatically,
and neither of those things was the case. Or say,
duty you come back, you win it all and then
you might drop it that right, I mean the fact
that he said fun finished business, right, Yeah, if he
could have done that a year ago and gone out
that way, and it just seems so anticlimactic when you
(04:48):
played as well as you played, right, um, right, and
I think you know, if you come back and win
it all, then yeah, I think you think about doing
it that way, right, And I mean, look, he's he's
a smart guy, right. I mean he had to have
looked at what up until the roster last year, Right,
the first year he was there, they had tremendous injury
walk like practically no injuries. Last year caught up with them.
They had a ton of injuries. So he has to
(05:10):
be looking at that landscape and saying, like, you know,
hope we were this close and we had all those injuries, like,
you know, if we can get any part of this
roster together, we're gonna be in the mix. He also
has to be looking at the NFC, which, let's face
it is, you know, is not the a f C,
no doubt. Chris Godwin, by the way, chief among those
key injuries from a year ago. Get to Chris Godwin
(05:32):
here in just a little bit. Um, but I did
want to hit I mean, and thank goodness that we
all didn't have to hear on on you know, Sunday
and Monday. Continue trying to read the lips of Tom
Brady talking to Christiano Ronaldo at the Manchester United game
where you know, apparently he sat down with the Glazer family, right,
and maybe that's where all this kind of started, or
(05:52):
at least came to a culmination, um, you know, talking
about all that where he was, you know, and Ronaldo
asked him, are you finished? And he goes and then
we didn't really know what was said. Afterwards, Now we
know and he's like, yeah, no, I'm coming back. Um.
And then let's let me get to that part here
because Judy mentioned it. Sarah, what was your read on
any potential frustration or growing sour of the relationship that
(06:16):
there might have been between Tom and Bruce and and
Byron and that whole triumvirant of offensive masterminds down there
in Tampa. You know, I didn't really see that. But
I also think, like, if you go back to even
last year, again, I'm not seeing the stuff that's behind
closed doors. But I didn't get that sense. Um. You know,
when you go back to last year when Tom, you know,
(06:37):
had a bad game, people were freaking out that Bruce
would be like, yeah, that pick was on him because
you never heard that before, because Belichick would never say
something like that. And Tom is still human, even though
he's the greatest of all time, right, so there there
were interceptions that were on Tom and Bruce would say
that and people would freak out and go, oh my god,
like can you believe he would say that to Tom?
(06:58):
And I'm like, um, I think Tom's pretty realistic and
no one's more competitive than Tom. So I don't think
Tom is the kind of person that's throwing someone under
the bus, like if he feels like he messed it up,
and so so much was made about if you even
think about that, and then they went on to win
a super Bowl, So I didn't I didn't really put
a lot of stock in that because I do believe
like if Tom wants something changed, Tom would get it changed.
Right If if Tom didn't like the way Byron was
(07:18):
doing something or didn't like the way they were calling something,
I think that they would get a change. Now you're
you're dealing with high profile people, people that have been
successful at high levels, right, and are you gonna butt
heads and you're gonna clash on some things? Like? I
think that's a realistic. I think that that's normal. I
don't think that it was. It was something crazy, but
it's just like everything always gets twisted and it has
(07:39):
to be more than that, right. I also don't think
that Tom Brady is going to just quit football because
he's clashing with Bruce on something, right, Like, He's not
gonna do that, Like, it's just he's gonna go when
he wants to go, do it the way. Yeah, And
I really think you know, the one thing you hear
about Bruce constantly is he's a truth teller, sometimes too
to the fault of like the PR. The PR guys
(07:59):
would sa, hey, we wish he wasn't so honest, and
you know personally, like I would want to play for
somebody like that. I would want to play for somebody
or work for somebody that levels with you and doesn't
tell you what you want to hear. And you know,
if anything, if they've had tough conversations, are hard conversations,
I feel like they probably both level with each other.
And you know, Bruce knows that, like this thing doesn't
go without Tom. And I think you also saw them,
(08:21):
you know, nobody really believed it when he was like, yeah,
I'm good with playing Gavitt and Kyle trash, like no
one really believed that. But you also didn't see them.
You didn't see them like really like going out there
and making moves for other things. And when we were
at the Combine two weeks ago, I think we were
talking about this there right, like if you wanted to
move on, you sort of would have said you moved on,
and that clearly, you know, even to your point about
the Glazers meeting with him at that Manchester United game,
(08:44):
obviously these conversations were taking place back then at the
Combine and to the Bucks credit. Again, Jason and Bruce
didn't lie, like they didn't say yet we're going after
other people and Tom's moved on. I mean, they were
kind of obvious about what was going on. And when
that happened, I'm like, Okay, well this isn't this isn't
coming out of out of nowhere right there, not saying
I mean Bruce even said if it's August and Tom
wants to come back, he'll come back. Now your story
(09:05):
pursuing yeah as a starter, So you're not going out
and pursuing DeShawn Watson and saying, hey, come here. But
just by the way, if Tom wants to like kick
you out come August, you're out of there. Like, so
this has all been it's all been going on, and
maybe Tom just needed a reset. And like you said,
like this seemed like a great idea the week after
you announced it, and then maybe it wasn't as great
of an idea three weeks from then, and then four
weeks from them you're like, I feel great, Like I
(09:28):
just had a great season, um and things change. But
I personally don't put like stock in that story about
the headbutting thing as much as it was, which isn't
to say that they never putted heads, but I don't
think more so than the normal amount. By the way,
you just go tell the Hannak over there, pr just
to step up and deal with the honesty. Okay, enough
of the okay, hey, but for the media it's so
(09:54):
great center of and maybe they can't. He does what
he wants, which is why he's so great. Yeah, no doubt,
but does what he wants, not mechanics one of the guys, correct,
Judy the continuity, um now Bruce, Brady, Byron all back
for a third season together. And we saw what season
(10:16):
two really started to look like when everybody was healthy.
They kind of kept trying to keep it together down
the stretch. But I'm expecting nothing less than what we
got at the start of last year. No, I think
the big question is, first of all, what will God
was condition when he comes back. That's that's the big one, UM.
And then how much more they can keep intact because
(10:37):
they have a load of free agents. They're not all
going to be coming back. We already know some of
them who I mean, Ali Marpetto is retired and is
going to stay retired. Um. And Alex Coppa, the other
guard is is already Cincinnati cincinat Cincinnati right so UM,
so we know it's not going to be intacted. I
(10:57):
thought the big thing last night was like as soon
as Brady said coming back, like five minutes later, it
was like, then, imagine that's so. I think that's It's
almost like they talked duty ahead. It's like the mind
meld thing. Um, you know, I think that's a key thing.
You're right that the offense was at a different level
(11:18):
at the start of last year when everybody was healthy,
and then obviously as the injuries took a hole, you know,
it tailed off, and certainly we saw that at the end.
But um, I think assuming that Chris Godwin comes back
in anything approaching Chris Godwin form, and you've got Mike
Evans and you you fill in some holes on the
offensive line, Gronk, I have to think there's one right, right,
(11:41):
you have to think. I mean, Gronk had never shut
the door on continuing to play. He's been working out
in Tampa. I mean, come on, you got to get
him back. And can you get Leonard four Nette back.
You know he's going to have a market. But I
think if they can keep as much as they can together,
then yeah, I think I think they're going to play
at a high level. And don't forget this. You know
(12:02):
this division well it did look to be wide open
until Tom Brady came back, and now it doesn't spear
to be that wide open um at all. And the
to me, the only question then is does you know
to the Saints where the Panthers get to Shawn Watson,
because then that becomes the team that maybe can challenge
the box. But who knows, you know, and that that
was something we will discuss here um in just a
(12:24):
couple of moments. Last one here in the box free
agents that you're that you're looking at their Sarah you
know grown for Net Sue, Jason, Pierre Paul, that that
whole crew. I mean, you anticipate almost of those guys
getting getting a good look to come back. Here. I
brought up this point on NFL Network. You know, we
want to go through this whole list of Kim Tom
(12:46):
get his entire band back together. But we also saw
like he's Tom Brady and he can have success without
the flaggiest names. He did that in New England without
the flashiest receiver. So here's what we know right now.
Let's just say he gets Gronk back, because I think
it'd be more surprising if he didn't come fact than
he did. Right, So let's say get strong back. He's
got a Pro Bowl Hall of Famer and Rob Bronkowski.
He's got two Pro Bowl receivers in Chris Godwin and
(13:07):
Mike Evans, and then you know Leonard Fournette. That would
be a big win for them if he can get back,
because he does so much and when it comes to
pass catching as far as running it. But look at
the end of the year. Last year, he was during
game winning touchdowns to Cyril Grayson who never played college football.
He threw a game winning touchdown to Brashad Berryman. We
weren't talking about any of those guys in weeks one
through ten of the season. I mean, it doesn't matter.
(13:28):
He'll go find someone on the practice squad and he'll
throw them a game win he touchdown. I mean, that
is the difference between Tom Brady and everybody else that
has ever played this game. So I think especially as
we look at free agency and you look how scarce
the quarterback options are when you look at the list
of who's available. I mean there's teams that are in
a real need and the Bucks just went out and
for the second time got the greatest of all time.
I feel like everything else at this point where is
(13:51):
icing on the cake. They'll make it work. The Bucks
are gonna do everything they can to make them happy.
You better believe that, because they were definitely promised this
made to him to get him to come back. But
whoever is on that roster on any given game day,
I mean it's Tom Brady and so you have a chance.
I think you're right. And the last question here on
the Brady um deal, because somebody got a raw deal.
(14:13):
Somebody paid a whole lot of money. Been Tom Brady's
last touchdown pass thousand dollars. In fact, I think at
that point I thought he was getting a bargain because
there was a lot of talk to that ball could
have gone for north of a million bucks. Is that
guy get a refund? Like? What is that? And I
just say, this is kind of harsh. I'm having trouble
(14:36):
working up angst for someone who can spend five thousand
dollars on a football. Okay, it didn't work out. You
spent five hundred dollars on a football. You probably have
another five hundred thousand dollars laying around somewhere. I'm like duty,
I'm a duty, she's not she's not wrong, I'm not
like I'm not a memorabilial person in that thing. It'd
(14:57):
be cool, but I think the lesson learned, like for
everyone that that's in that situation. And how many times,
by the way, this year did the Box have situations
where they gave away every single game Week one. I
can't even imagine the bios at the box PR guys again,
shut up buckx PR have to put together like every
week we get a list and this will start week
one of the records that Tom's going to break during
(15:17):
the games, which they're all his at this point. So
every ball that they give to anyone in the stands
is like some record or it's some miless. They have
to retrieve it. I don't have to go retreat it.
They have to pull deals, they have to whatever. So
like lesson, learn whatever ball your handed, like, you don't like,
just be appreciative it to Tom Brady football And I
don't Maybe they stop that all together next year. Maybe
Mike Evans because he's the one that's given them all away,
(15:39):
just kind of like hoards these things and then like
turns it into like a scholarship fund, because that's something
like that, Mike Evans. But yeah, right, I mean, maybe
he should think about that before he's like tossing him
up into the stands. But I did think of that though.
R at like that guy missed the mark by just
like a couple of hours. Yeah, it happened on like Sunday,
(15:59):
right or Saturday, Saturday, something like like a couple of
hours before. Yeah, that I mean. I also I would say, like,
you know, you gotta check in with your football reporters
who were already having doubts that Tom was really retired
before you invest in Tom's last football no doubt. And
(16:19):
while Tom might be the biggest piece of the quarterback
puzzle to fall into place here, there are still many
left to go. One Deshaun Watson. We did get another one,
though Mitchell Robinski has found a new home. Deshaun Watson
still looking or other teams looking for him. We'll figure
(16:40):
out which way that goes right after this. But the
free agency frenzy is off in running back here on
(17:00):
NFL Inside Report, Duty, Batista and Sarah Walsh are with us.
Talked about one of the biggest pieces to the quarterback
puzzle at the top there, Tom Brady coming back to
the Bucks. Sounds like Mitchell Trabiski is expected to sign
a two year deal and expected to be the starter
in Pittsburgh. Aaron Rodgers back in Green Bay. Obviously, the
two big trades we've seen thus far, Russell Wilson the
(17:21):
mega deal to go to Denver, leaving Seattle the only
home he's ever known in the NFL. Carson Wentz also
one and done in Indianapolis and now shipped off to
the Washington Commanders. And so all attention really turning to
Deshaun Watson, who was cleared of criminal charges this past week,
obviously still facing some civil suits and potential NFL discipline.
(17:44):
But Sarah, as you're looking at the sweepstakes, we've talked
to Jane Slater has talked a lot about the Saints
being all in on Deshaun Watson. The Panthers made moves
and overtures towards for the to the Texans to get
Deshaun watching services last year and couldn't get it done.
Where do you sit on all the Deshaun Watson potential
trade talk here? I think he's gonna go to the
(18:06):
NFC South. Now, whether that's the Panthers are the Saints,
because I think both of those makes most Both of
them makes sense for a lot of reasons. Right. If
you want to go on to the Panthers side of things, Um,
they're obviously interested. They were interested, as you said a
season ago. Geographically it makes sense for him there. He
played at Clemson. Um, so that's that's in the vicinity.
(18:26):
He's from Georgia, you know. And if you're him and
what's unfolded for the last couple of years, I mean,
I'm sure. Look he's he's loved. They're beloved, especially after
winning a national championship at Clemson. If you're him, you're like,
I need to start over. I need a fresh start, um,
going back to my roots. Like, maybe that's that's the solution.
You look at the Saint side of things, I mean,
(18:47):
this is an organization that at points last year and
I did a couple of their games on Fox in
the NFL Fox broadcast, and their defense is really good.
I mean, their defense can carry them in certain phases
and and they're missing that piece, right, which is what
the I'm not comparing him to Tom Brady, but had
a very good defense for a long time right, you're
just missing this piece. And and there's certainly talented players
(19:10):
on that Saints team that if they get the right guy,
right time, right fit, I think things change real quickly
in New Orleans. And to your point, you know this
division was wide open a second ago. It is not
wide open when you bring in Tom Brady. But if
you put him, who is very talented, on that Saints team,
I think it changes things real quickly for them. Obviously,
(19:32):
there's so much to be weighed on what's going to
happen suspension wise, but I think what we see is
this trend of there are not great quarterbacks out there.
There's not a lot of guys that are. I don't
want to say great quarterbacks because you're playing the NFL,
you're a very good quarterbacks. Separation between the guys at
the top and everyone else, there's just not a lot
of guys. There's not the very very elite once you
(19:53):
get to the NFL. And I think there are teams
out there that thinks, to Shawan is that can be
that for them And if if he can get cleared
or get past or or however the league is going
to handle this situation, there's teams that are like, hey,
we want to win. I mean that's that's the reality
of it. And you can moral wise agree with that
disagree with that. But you know how quickly winning makes
(20:13):
people forget anything. I mean, we've seen, I can, I
can give you example of case after case after case
in this league. So again that's not an indictment on
personal beliefs on whatever has happened, but teams want to win,
and there are not. When you look at the quarterbacks
available at this point, I mean, who's available that's that's
still like a big name that's exciting people, There's there's
not a lot of those guys out there. I think
(20:33):
Jimmy g everyone's kind of looking to see where he's
going to go. But when you look at the market
that's out there, teams are going to jump on him,
even knowing that there could be a suspension coming. Right.
But I do think that it's one of those two
in the NFC South that he would make sense for
both of those teams. How badly do they want them?
What are they willing to part with to get them
one of them? I think I would be surprised. I
(20:54):
can't imagine him going to anywhere outside of those two
good thought. Certainly I think Seattle may or may not
be in the mix as well. Um and uh, you know,
so that it's definitely one of the biggest pieces to
follow here as the trade talks kind of kind of
continue on the quarterback front there now Judy from a
discipline standpoint on the NFL level, the you know, the
(21:15):
NFL's investigation obviously still ongoing, has been going on for
quite some time. Right now that we know that he
is clear of criminal charges, at least for now, civil
suits still going on. Like, do you foresee the NFL
holding withholding any potential discipline until although civil suits are resolved.
I think they would like to have as much information
(21:36):
as they can get. Look, there's no timeline for the
NFL to do it. They don't have to do anything
until he's right. I mean, he's clear to play now.
But we're in the off season right We're how how
many days away from opening days, so they have plenty
of time. Their investigation has been ongoing all this time.
He is do We're taking this on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday,
(21:59):
he is due to get of depositions in the civil cases,
so we'll get a little bit more information. Um, I mean,
I certainly expect the NFL to take some action, some
disciplinary action against Shaun Laton. They have done that before
in players who have not been charged criminally. UM. They
did it with Ben Roethlisberger, probably most famously. UM, they
(22:22):
suspended him for six games, it was reduced to four.
They didn't did it with James Winston as well. So
I certainly think that they are going to suspend him
for behavior that well, it may not rise to the
level of a criminal charge. UM has certainly you know, Um,
it's certainly unseemly at best. UM, And you know, I
(22:42):
would expect that there'll be some discipline. But listen, the
teams that are interested have surely factored that in right.
The fact of the matter is, this is a play
for the long term. He's twenty six years old. Setting
aside the baggage and the off the field issues, the
very serious off the field issues. He's a tough five
quarterback when he's on the field. I mean, he just is.
(23:02):
And he's twenty six. This is a decision for the
long term. He could be your quarterback for the next
dozen fifteen years. So, UM, whatever team makes the move,
These teams that are interested in the Saints, the Panthers,
and you know, who knows who else that we might
know about. Um, these are long range decisions. They know
that there's probably going to be a suspension this year.
(23:24):
They know there might be a PR hit, you know,
to whatever degree. Certainly I think there would probably be
less of a PR hit in the Carolinas where Deshaun
Watson is beloved. But they're they're factoring all of that
in when they look at the landscape. I mean, nobody
is naive here about this, and they're and they're thinking, like, look,
as Sarah said, like winning uh smooths over an awful
(23:48):
lot of things. People are willing to give second chances
for one thing. Um, certainly if he pays his debt,
people are willing to give second chances. And then winning
glosses over a lot. And if you're gonna Deshaun Watson
in and they're gonna start winning a lot, like, people
will move past it, and they'll probably move past it
fairly quickly, probably right uh. And look as we switch
(24:11):
gears here, it really feels like the Jaguars are moving
past the urban Meyer tenure very quickly by trying to
change the narrative in terms of building this team by
spending a whole bunch of cash GM Trent Bulky with
head coach Doug Peterson into here getting set for his
(24:31):
first season coming up this year. I mean, as we
sit here on this Monday afternoons you said, recording this
podcast here they have are expected to ink deals with
Brandon Sheriff, a pro bowler in five of his last
years the guard for the Washington Commanders, defensive tackle fully
Fought Akassi, who has quickly become a really valuable piece
(24:53):
in this league as a nose tackle. Foyero Louikan who
led the league and tackles yougo, has been a big
play machine for the Atlanta foul against three years forty
five million, can go up to forty six and a half.
And then Christian Kirk getting it absolutely monster deal four
years worth seventy two max value of eighty four. I
think the guarantees have come down to something like thirty
(25:14):
seven million and guarantees for Kirk, but that is still
an astronomical number for a player you know, who's been good,
um and explosive at times in Arizona, but was maybe
like the third wide receiver, you know, they're in Arizona
and now getting paid wide receiver one money. What do
you make all this new money going out in Jacksonville. Well, look,
first of all, I hope they hit on all of
(25:35):
these things, because we've sort of seen the Jaguars do
this periodically in the past. And they did it actually
the year that they made the run to the a
f C Championship game and we're how many minutes away
from from beating the Patriots. Um, they spent a lot
of money in free agency that year and and they
hit and it was great. They have obviously staggered along
since then, so you sort of hope that they're all
(25:57):
of these moves pay off. Look, the Brendan Sheriff one
is a good move. They knew they had to protect.
That means they franchise tag their left tackle. They've got
a you know, a top level guard in there. They
have to protect Trevor Lawrence. They have to build around
this jewel of a quarterback who you know, just got
destroyed last year. Um, not entirely his fault, and UM,
(26:20):
you just don't want to waste you know, you don't
want to waste his early years, especially when he's on
the relatively cheap rookie deal. You want to put as
many pieces around him as you can. So they're clearly
doing that. They clearly think Christian Kirk gives them, um,
you know, gives him a solid target. Uh. Presumably d J.
Chark is going to land elsewhere. He was a really
(26:40):
good wide receiver. Um. And and they're shoring up the
defense to which they needed to do so on paper. Look,
they've got the money, they're going to have the draft pick, Like,
this is what you want to do. You want to
put pieces around Trevor Lawrence because you just don't want him,
you know, struggling the way he struggled last year. Yeah,
and looking at the Kirk deal um as a precursor
(27:01):
for what we might see, you know, for wide receiver money. Um,
what Davante Adams's crew do you think doing right now,
who has already said that he's not going to play
on the franchise tag that's worth twenty mill I mean,
he's gonna be million dollar receiver at this point. I
have to thay, let's look at it from the other point.
I mean, first of all, wide receivers have to be thrilled.
Right on the other side, teams like the Green Bay
(27:21):
Packers must be like, what on what are we doing here? Um?
I mean, you know, it's just got that much harder.
And I mean obviously, Davante Addams is going to command,
you know, a boatload of money and he deserves everybody
of it, and you've got to do it because you
have to keep him there with Aaron Rodgers. So I mean, yeah,
(27:43):
that I have to think that general managers around the
league are looking at those numbers very closely on and
saying like really like yeah, and looks same for Chris Godwin,
you know, and Tampa was playing on the second straight
franchise tag. You know that's going to complicate things to
get him back now with with d and with Genten
whatever money. Yeah, they really wanted to get him under
(28:03):
a long term deal. So yes, it's going to things.
But but you know, hey, I mean good for the players,
good for Christian Current if if you can get the money,
get it, and good for the players. Yeah. Um. And
you know, addition to Davante Adams, the Packers also they
released the Darius Smith, so they saved some money there,
but brought back to Andre Campbell, who was one of
(28:25):
the most phenomenal pickups. Last year you played for just
two million bucks. Was an all pro. Uh. He now
got a big money deal, as did Preston Smith. So
second deal for Preston Smith as a free agent in
Green Bay. Remember it was Preston who was like one
of like the presidents and Darius right like. This is
the part of this new wave of spending in Green
Bay for free agents, something that not typically been done there.
(28:47):
So there are still some huge type of premier players
still left on this on the top three agents list.
As you go over to NFL dot com, check out
the one NFL free agents that Greg Rosenthal puts together
their top on that list, Saints left tackle Toron Armstead Man,
I know the Saints love to have him back, but
he's gonna get some huge money. Quick thought on what
(29:10):
might work as a destination there to well if the
Saints can't hold on to him, I think the Miami
Dolphins would be a great fit. I think the Miami
Dolphins have to try try really hard to give him
because that's another team that had a dreadful offensive line.
I think they were graded football folks, and they great
at them as the worst offensive line in the league.
Which is saying something because we've seen some bad offensive
(29:32):
lines and they've got to do whatever they can to
help to and they gotta they gotta at least give
him the opportunity to succeed, just so they can get
a read on him. You know, he would protect his
front side to his left handed, so he would protect
the front side there. That would be a great fit.
They need to invest a lot in the offensive line
problem there in Miami's that they've invested a lot of
(29:52):
high draft picks on offensive lineman Austin Jackson, Leah Miikenberg's
Robert hunt Um. And you know, for whatever reason, I
still need need a big money player like that, lots
of money to spend them. So I can see the
Colts also being in on Toronto Armstead who need let's
tackle um, they need a quarterback the Colts. That's kind
of the first part, let's maybe worried part. Jess Jackson
(30:15):
is free agent number two on the list. It sounds
like a reunion with the Patriots is not in the cards,
So his name has been linked with the Chargers, who
have been really super aggressive this offseason, which is really fun.
They are another team right with the quarterback who's still
on the rookie deal. So you've got all this money
to play around with, and you want to put pieces
around justin Herbert obviously because he's fabulous. Um. And actually
(30:40):
Derwin James again, this is Monday afternoon where we're taping this,
and Derwin James tweeted before the like googly eyes emoji
and that sort of sent Twitter, you know, into a
like what is coming? What is it? What's that mean?
What do you know? Um? So we'll see it. But
I like the moves the Charges have made agressive, and
I think that's a natural fit for them. Speaking what
did you know von Miller with those tweets about going
(31:03):
back to Denver? So he was the one who knew
Russell Wilson was coming to Denver. We're like, oh, okay,
because it's like you would you have said that if
you didn't know Russel Wilson was going, No kidding, and
so like, if not going back to the Rams the
Broncos makes perfect sense, right, Yes, those are the only
(31:25):
two places I can imagine him going. Frank Like, I mean,
if it's if the Rams can't manage to keep him,
then I assume he goes to Denver. And that's great.
Chandler Jones in the NFC West has been an absolute force,
has led the league in sacks before and even if
he is not still you know, at the very top
or nine percent of whatever he is now is still
(31:46):
you know, a huge piece of a team's defensive rotation
there in terms of getting after the quarterback. Yeah, when
he plays every game at the season, he averages double
digit sacks those seasons. So when he's healthy, he is
incredible productive. I think last year he forced five quarterback
turnovers by with quarterback pressures, which is pretty amazing. Um,
(32:07):
I have to thank Buffalo takes a long look at
Chandler Jones. We we saw unfortunately for the Bills, they've
got practically everything else in place, but we saw they
could not get the quarterback when they absolutely had to
get to the quarterback in the playoffs last year. Um,
they need pass rush and that seems to be a
natural fit again, right, I mean, he's in his thirties,
and maybe he's not top top, top, top level pass
(32:30):
rusher anymore, but pretty good, pretty good and pretty productive.
And the Bills are built to win right now, so
it doesn't matter that he's thirty whatever. Yeah, and would
be an upgrade over Jerry Hughes, who has done some
really great things in Buffalo. But it's also thirty four,
a little bit younger for Chandler Jones, maybe a little
bit more productive, probably a little bit more money, um,
but still that's that's the price you gotta pay when
(32:52):
the free agency frenzy is running. And Judy uh Sarah,
you guys were fantastic, Thanks so much for spending some time.
Let's really appreciate it. Great to be with you. Yeah,
all right, back here with you on NFL Inside Report.
Just as we were literally talking about j C. Jackson
(33:14):
and a potential move to the l A Chargers there
with Judy Batista. As is the case here in this
week of free agency frenzy, things happened by the second
and it sounds like the Chargers are in fact expected
to sign former Patriot cornerback j. C. Jackson. Will be
a big money deal that according to NFL network insider
Ian Rappaport, to which our Daniel Jeremiah, our lead a
(33:38):
draft analyst and color analysts for the Chargers radio broadcast,
says that this is huge will allow last year's second
round pick and stud corner of Sante Samuel Jr. To
kick inside in terms of a slot cornerback role. So
the Chargers upgrade the secondary and then of course you
know they had the trade for Khalil Mack as well,
So a lot of upgrades happening to that Chargers defense
(34:00):
right now here in l A. And that's gonna do
it for this episode of NFL Inside Report. Thanks so
much for being with us here today. Reminder to rate review,
download our podcast and wherever you get your pods, the
I Heart Radio app, the Apple podcast app. We certainly
appreciate all of your support here and we will check
back with you perhaps later this week as the Free
(34:21):
Agency News Lawrence again, thanks so much for being with us.
For our producers Thomas Warren and Tim Paracca, I'm your host,
Red Lewis. We'll catch you next time. NFL Inside Report
is the production of the NFL and partnership with I
Heart Radio. For more official podcasts from the NFL, visit
the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
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