March 26, 2024 • 49 mins
On today's episode of the NFL Report: Steve Wyche is joined by guest host Tom Pelissero from the annual league meetings in Orlando, FL to discuss Mike Tomlin's comments on Russell Wilson getting the starting QB job for the Steelers over Justin Fields. Then they are joined by NFL Network Insiders Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport to break down the league voting to approve a ban on hip-drop tackles. The guys also sit down with head coaches Dan Quinn (Commanders), Jarod Mayo (Patriots), Antonio Pierce (Raiders), and Nick Sirianni (Eagles) to discuss the teams' outlooks ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. Vikings owner and president Mark Wilf stops by to talk about post-Kirk Cousins Minnesota, Justin Jefferson's looming contract extension, and proposed changes to the NFL's kickoff rules.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Jason Knight, general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
and this is the NFL Report.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hi, Welcome to the NFL Report. I'm Steve Whitch with
Tom Pellis Sarah filling in for James Palmer, who's on
the slopes.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Tom.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
We are in Orlando, Florida at the annual NFL Meeting.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
And what a show that we have today.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
We're gonna hear from Antonio Pierce, the Raiders head coach,
from the coaches of the team, to the top three
draft picks, and we're gonna be joined by Vikings co
owner Mark wil.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Should be a lot of fun here. We got a
lot of action already. We got rules changing, yep. We
got coaches dining and talking to the media for the
first time since free agency.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
A lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Rules change is also going to be joined by Tom's
fellow in Tigers, Mark Garrafollo and Ian Rappaport in just
a minute. But the big news of the morning, Steelers
coach Mike Tomlin sitting down with the media addressing his
new quarterback row.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
We're not resistant the competition, but as I've mentioned several
times of late, I just think it's appropriate to establish
positioning as we get into this thing, and the term
that I've used is Russell has polled position. And why
do I use that term because during this time where
we are not formally working, man, I just think it's
(01:17):
beneficial his experience in the National Football League, his process
that's been honed and perfected. Talking about over a twelve
month calendar is not only good for him, it's good
for teams.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
So Tom here, Mike Tomlin talking about that Russell Wilson,
who they acquired, you know, and for one point two
million dollars in justin field. So they got for a
twenty twenty five draft pick. They're in the quarterback room now.
He said, we're going to leave it over for a competition,
but I'm putting Russell Wilson there first.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
He's giving me the first guy to take some reps.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Mike Tomlin has not been in this position since he's
been the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. What do
you kind of take for him from him basically saying
Russell is going to start out as the guy.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Well, Mike Tomlin is a big believer in having a
depth chart even going into the offseason. And to clarify
people's roles, the expectations. It removes a lot of the
ambiguity and the questions you get through the course of
this offseason. So we reported shortly after Ian broke the
trade of Justin Field's going to Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
I tweeted it. I was told Russell Wilson is the starter.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Whole position is a little bit of a head said, well,
Justin Fields, who we get into camp, we get into
the games, who get an opportunity to show his abilities,
as only Mike Tomlin can say here, but listen, they
want to put everything they have behind Russell Wilson. He's
the veteran, He's the guy who really intrigued Mike Tomlin.
Tom talked about this too at the breakfast, saying that
(02:43):
this is a guy who was really driven to define
his career and that's something that's spoke right. In other words,
Russell Wilson's gotten kicked around. He's gone from being let
Russ Cook, let him throw it around, super Bowl champ,
maybe a future Hall of Famer, to a guy who's
been a punchline for a couple of years here going
back to the end in Seattle and obviously a couple
of tumultuous seasons, I think it's fair.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
To say in Denver here.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
So now he goes into Pittsburgh and it's still announced
with a video on social media, and he's still posting
the workout videos.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
Russ is going to be Russ.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
However, for the way that they want to play, it's
kind of a throwback to what Russell Wilson grew up in.
Play good defense, run the heck out of the football,
and have a veteran quarterback who's going to protect the
ball make a few plays when he might need it.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
And that's important because Arthur Smith, the former Falcons head coach,
is now the offensive coordinator for Pittsburgh and what was
the identity of the Falcons they ran the football. One
thing Tomlin also said, which he enambered him with Russell Wilson,
is when they started speaking to him in this process,
Russell had done his homework on the Steelers their kind
of background, not history, but how Arthur Smith wants to
(03:51):
run this offense.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
So that really spoke to him as well.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Again, as Mike Tomlin is changing over his quarterback room,
tom we also have some changes coming to the NFL
next year. Here at the Owners meeting. The Competition Committee
already has voted among its owners to ban the swivel
hip drop tackle, and JJ Watt says, just fast forward
(04:14):
to the belts with flags on him.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Here comes He's you just saying we're not playing anymore.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
J jaths Ah, But Jonathan Grenard's playing the new Vikings
defensive end, penalizing defenders for trying to tackle a runner
who has the option to.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Go down to prevent injury. Yeah, makes sense.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
So this is another interesting take because we know the
NFLPA the players didn't like that, but here we go,
Jonathan Gernard more. You can't ban something and not show
us the alternatives, like, come.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
On, rest assured.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
There will be a tape Jonathan that you will have
to watch in camp and you can ask all the questions.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
The league will do the tour. They'll show us probably the.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Same tape with a few alternatives that they showed in
the press conference earlier today. Listen when Roger Gondale, Troy Vincent,
Rich McKay all come out in recent months and say
very clear, this is a play we want to get
out of the game, no matter what the opposition is
for players or anyone else.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
This was what was going to happen.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
All right, Tom, Now we're joined by your fellow in
Tiler's Mike, you're a follow Ian Rappaporton.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Guys, thanks for joining us. That's been a long day.
But the banning of the swivel hip drop tackle, Mike,
we're expecting this when we came here, but let's explain
for folks exactly what's being banned and why.
Speaker 6 (05:26):
Yeah, because there is a lot of reaction to this
because the thought is this happens so often in a game,
and it's gonna be flags all over the place. What
the NFL has said with Rich McKay, the chairman of
the Competition Committee said, what Jeff Miller, the NFL executive,
tried to make clear is that it's not that common
of an occurrence because it's not just a hip drop.
It is the swivel hip droppers. They really did not
(05:47):
hammer home last week. The home once we got here,
all of a sudden, it was like, let's emphasize the
swivel part and that is the coming up off the ground.
You can't really tell them on that one. We'll see
another one coming up here, but.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
It is the not a good sign.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Mike, first highlight, well, you can't really tell there, well
grab this is the one.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Right here the market, but he was already on this right,
this was on the ground, but this was the mark
Andrews injury was the one that really well, it's it's.
Speaker 6 (06:12):
The thought is you grabbed the ball carrier with two hands,
then you as a defender, lift yourself into the air
with some kind of swivel motion potentially, and then you
come down on the player in a way that you're
driving his ankles and knees into the ground. You're resulting
in the high ankle sprains and these types of things.
They found based on what they did from their review
of the NFL two hundred and thirty instances, which is
(06:33):
what less than one per game, So don't panic. Don't
be thinking this is gonna happen like five or six
times a game.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (06:40):
And of those tackles, fifteen resulted in an injury with
a player missing a game going forward. So it is
a high incidence if you're looking at in that regard
as far as injury. I talked to John Marra, who's
you know, been in the competition committee probably longer than anybody,
and what he said Ian is that it's something that
had to be taken out of the game.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
They understood the defensive players were going to.
Speaker 6 (06:59):
Be upset it, but they've adapted to other things like
the horse cower attacking tackle, and they feel like they're gonna.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Adapt to this.
Speaker 7 (07:04):
Yeah, I though Jeff Miller, one of the NFL's executives
on health and safety, explained it well, and you know,
he essentially brought up the reaction from defensive players, said, well,
you tell us we can't do anything, what can we do?
And then his answer was definitely not that. And to me,
like you watch the Mark andrews logan Wilson play where
he basically breaks his leg based on being a defensive
(07:25):
player and a tackle, and it's like, whatever you can
do to make sure that one of the best weapons
in the game doesn't get a broken leg on a
routine tackle, whatever you can do to make sure that
doesn't happen.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
I'm good with that rule and I've been not surprised.
Speaker 7 (07:39):
But you know, eyebrow raised a little bit of some
of the defensive players weighing in on some of these,
you know, on the rules change, because the reality is
it is a tackle that routinely injures their fellow players
and fellow union members.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
They should be for this, not against it.
Speaker 8 (07:58):
And I'm a little surprised by.
Speaker 6 (07:59):
It, which is why the union stance on this is
the most interesting aspect of me, because it's a lot
easier when it's player against team, go back to player,
it's easy, right. In this case, it's half the players
are against the defensive side of the ball, and the
players in the offensive side of the ball are obviously said, hey,
anything you can do it protect us and help us
out here.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
So it's like which.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Side do they take? And they came down strongly onside.
But here's the player.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
They announced this again, we knew this was coming, but
they announced it at the same time. They say, well,
defenses have caught up because we see that scoring is down.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
So now the defensive players are saying.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
We finally make some headway.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
And now you're doing something to ban a tackle. Look.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
I spoke to say, you're Franklin, the linebacker for the Colts,
who said, we don't go into any place saying we're
going to tackle tackle a player this way. Yeah, A
lot of times, like Logan Wilson against Mark Ansch is
a smaller player trying to bring down a bigger dude.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Because you can no longer maybe drive his helmet into
him or whatever. So this is what it is.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Well and listen to what a unions do. They protect
wages and working conditions. The number one concern here forget it.
Know I'm gonna get penalized because my team, it's are
we all going to get fined for this?
Speaker 4 (09:04):
The number one complain everybody last year with USA helmet.
It wasn't about the very rare times was called in games.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
It was about all the times the guys were getting
fined the next week and the guys like Jalen Warren,
we're losing entire game checks.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
That's what this comes down to.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
My prediction is going to be you will see a
ton of fines during the preseason and because some officials
a lot of times the league will incourage them, hey
through a few so we've got.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
A frame of reference.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
We can look at those plays, what did you see
and then have them be correctable. When we get to
the regular season, it'll be fewer fines still some and it'll
be virtually no flags. That's usually how these things go.
And if it is something that egregious, I don't know that.
There's a lot of people who look at, for instance,
the Geno Smith play where he gets dragged down from
the behind and say, well, that was a tackle that
was necessary on And.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
The one thing they also made clear it was like,
there will be no video replay assistance on this to
help the officials.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Whatever the call is to call will stand.
Speaker 6 (09:59):
Yeah, the only video replay you're gonna see is what
they're gonna send to these teams every week in and
week out and say, hey, here were four instances that
weren't called, and this is something that we're looking to
take out of the game.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
It's it's it's.
Speaker 6 (10:09):
Gonna be hard to officiate, which a lot of things
are hard to officiate, but but some of these are
more cut and dried, right, like the hits to the head,
it's either a hit to a head or it's not
a hit to head. The horse collar you know it
when you see it. Obviously on this one you sort
of know when you see it. But there's gonna be
ones that are gonna be right up against it, and
it's it's it's gonna be a.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Topic of the ones that don't get called. Yeah, it's
gonna be the controversy. It's something obvious that gets called
it's gonna be okay, Yeah, that's fine, it's gonna be Wait,
why wasn't that call? Now that's where you're gonna run
into some issues. And that's where again they're taking their
cue from international rugby. When this same type of tackle
started to get out lawned. It wasn't with penalties or
whatever they called in rugby. I've never watched rugby.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
It was find guys.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Initially, because you're trying to correct the technique without disrupting
the games, we're gonna see the same thing.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
You're a big rugby guy.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
I'm not a big rugby guy, but it's very entertaining
to watch.
Speaker 8 (10:58):
Spend some time in Hong.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Kong and rugby was on.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
Have you ever seen a flag for a hip drop ft?
Do they have flags?
Speaker 9 (11:03):
I know?
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Okay, okay, time to get back on the rails. Eda, Mike,
thank you so much. Everybody.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
You could catch the insiders these three guys tomorrow here
from the league meetings at one pm Eastern time here on.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
The NFL Network, And coming up next we're gonna be
hearing from the coaches with the top three picks in
the NFL Draft. This is good stuff. Come back and
roll that tape.
Speaker 10 (11:26):
LC.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
It's time for the lead block, presented by Team Mobile
for Business, a sport as fast as football deserves America's
fastest five G network. Businesses go further with Team Mobile
for Business.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
A month away from the twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Four NFL Draft, and boy do we got some quarterbacks
for you? Starts with that guy Caleb Williams from USC,
the presumptive number one overall pick. But you got Drake
Mate out of North Carolina. You got guys like Jayden
Daniels out of LSU who could be there. The Bear's
takula lives at number two. Little conversation with Dan Quinn
(12:12):
about that. So based on what you've done and trade
away the guy was the starter last year. Is it
fair to say at this point that you envision taking
a quarterback at number two?
Speaker 11 (12:23):
I would say it'd be fair to envision we'll be
taking a quarterback. To say where it will be happening,
I think that's a better question for Adam. You know,
as the next week's unfold, there'll be a lot of discussion.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Speaking of trades. Is the phone ringing on number two?
And is Adam even allowed to answer it. Yes, I
would say it's ring and because, like you said, the
talent of the group this year, and so I would
anticipate in you know, fielding these calls as it.
Speaker 10 (12:51):
Goes through to it.
Speaker 11 (12:52):
You know, it is part of the process, and you
do have to do your due diligence to listen and
find out just to make sure, like is there something
that you know that you just couldn't refuse. I certainly
walked past it in the hallway, went after the Cowboys,
you know, years ago for a trade that involved herschel
Walker and many of draft picks and changed a lot
of their organization. So I think anybody in personnel with
(13:15):
the with the skill at them, they're going to listen.
But there's only so many things that you would consider,
and it had better be really good.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Day. Quinn certainly sounds like a guy who in.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
His first year in Washington expects to be getting a
quarterback pretty high here, probably.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
At number two, although he did leave open.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
I mean herschel Walker that was a was a big
time trade, right there, a blockbuster type of deal that
maybe could get them to move and maybe if their
quarterback is not Jayden Dangels, Steve, We'll being.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Back and getting a different cut. That's a big could
make some sense.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
That's a big if, because the one thing at number
two is that's the last spot in this draft where
you know you've got your own opportunity to pick the
guy that you want. Caleb Williams is going to Chicago,
right That's that's money in the bank right there.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
That is that certainly would appear to be the plan.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
That appears to be the plan.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
We got a hedge. Come on, we still got a
month of drama here.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
But time.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
You know, if they trade back now, they're depending on
what happens in front of them to see if they're
gonna get a guy.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
If they come out of this draft.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
And they have an opportunity to get one of the
top quarterbacks and don't, that's a problem for dan Quinn
and the staff as they try to rebuild this roster.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
We see some of the moves that they made.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
You know, they added Austin Eckler, they added some players
up front to help with the team, even to support
a young quarterback. So if they don't take one at
number two.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
What I find fascinating is just the conversations I've had.
I haven't seen Adam Peters here at the NFL Annual
meeting yet. When I've talked to other gms and everybody's
trying to fail what everybody else is doing, more than
one have said to me they think the guy for
Washington is JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
Wow, is that the picket too? Is that the trade
down scenario?
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Right?
Speaker 3 (14:51):
I'm not saying that's what happens. I'm not getting that
from Adam Peters or the Washington Commanders. I'm just saying
there are people in the league who believe that their
actual guy.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Remember last time Adam Peters when the situation he's with
the Niners and people were saying, oh, Mac Jones, Mac
Jones is gonna be the Niners quarterback the end with
Trey Lance. Neither has worked out, so they hope things
go better right there. Well, we know who is picking
after the Washington Commanders at number three. That's the New
England Patriots. They also need a quarterback, and I sat
down with their coach, girod Mayo, who, like Dan Quinn,
(15:23):
did not sidestep the fact that getting a quarterback is
a priority.
Speaker 10 (15:29):
It's the priority right now.
Speaker 12 (15:30):
But with that being said, you have to really be
in love with the guy to take in that number three,
and so really all the options are still open for us.
Speaker 10 (15:37):
Do you think your perspective of playing for so long
and then coaching on the defensive side for so long
is really giving you a special insight and evaluating quarterback.
Speaker 12 (15:47):
Yeah, I think so. With that being said, I'm not
going to sit here and talk to you about mechanics
and things like that, but I can see competitiveness. I
can't see toughness. I can't see a playmaker out there.
But you know, with our staff with Elliott and you
know the quarterback guys that we have out in New
England now we have multiple including Macado, avp TC. All
those guys have been you know, watching quarterbacks for a
(16:09):
long time and I really think we have to work,
you know, work together to come to some type of
consensus to really feel good about number three.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
I'm glad you said that about I can't talk to your
mechanics and off platform or this or that, but the competitiveness,
how important is that too? You played with the greatest
who's ever done you know, he was the most competitive
guy to ever ever do it.
Speaker 10 (16:31):
How important of a trait is that tea. It's huge.
Speaker 9 (16:33):
You know.
Speaker 12 (16:34):
You see these quarterbacks that have the mechanics, they have
all the tools, but lack toughness. You know, you're gonna
get hit in the NFL as a quarterback and you
have to be able to stand in there and really
just get back up and do it all over again.
So toughness is definitely a huge part.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
What's it like following Bill Belichick, a guy you won
Super Bowls with and knowing his history, what's it like
stepping into that role?
Speaker 10 (16:57):
It's tough.
Speaker 12 (16:58):
I mean, look, those are huge choose to feel. At
the same time, I have to be myself. It's gotten
me this far and I'm not trying to be Bill Belichick.
I'm Gerroi Mayo.
Speaker 10 (17:08):
This is me.
Speaker 12 (17:09):
And when you talk about establishing cultures and leadership, I
have a certain way of doing that. But at the
same time, I did learn a lot from you know,
perhaps the greatest coach in all time.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
You know, later on that interview, Tom Mayo told me
that also one of his huge influence to influences coaching
is Mike Tomblin. They're both from the same town in
the Hampton, Virginia area. The Tomlin has really giving him
a lot of insight as well. But I want to
get back to what he was saying about quarterback because
unlike Washington, who knows what's going to happen.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
In front of him, Patriots don't.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
And if Washington chooses the quarterback that the Patriots may like,
because you heard him say they have to come to
a consensus, then maybe they bail because we know there's
about five teams that want to get up and get
one of these quarterbacks, so it'd be very interesting. I
still don't think they'll bail. I still got the feeling
after talking with him, they're going to keep the pick
(18:02):
and choose a quarterback right there. But then and their
roster's kind of barren. They're going to have to build
a roster around the quarterback that they take right there.
More so, what Washington is doing is building a roster
now to support a young quarterback.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
And the questions are who would be those teams trying
to trade up. You've got the Giants at number six.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Brandy Will told me earlier this week that when Daniel
Jones gets back, he's the guy, which is kind of
the thing you have to go with because making thirty
five point five million dollars guarantee doesn't preclude the Giants
draftter the quarterback. The Vikings now on the eleven and
the twenty t picks any value chart you go with,
that's enough to get you up to about number four,
so they could be.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
A potential team. And of course the Raiders.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
We know when Mark Davis and Antonio Pierce said that
with all the prospective gms, a big piece of but
it was how do.
Speaker 4 (18:46):
We go get the quarterback? What would it take for
us to go get the quarterback?
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Here there are a bunch of teams potentially in that
trade up mix, and usually there's somebody Steve who maybe
secretly else was amick.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
That a wrap for the lead block presented by Team
Mobile for Business, a sport as fast as football deserves
America's fastest five G network. Businesses go further with T
Mobile for Business coming up next on the NFL Report.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
You do not want to miss this.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
It is one unplugged and unfiltered Antonio Pierce, the head
coach of Las Vegas, and he brings the fire next.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
On the NFL Report. Let's do what we do, boy,
this is what we do. Be specially to night. All right,
crazy lads, get some jews down.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Let's go up top.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Huh, I'm top.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
Oh two, let's go what like it?
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Like it? Pound them, pound.
Speaker 8 (19:48):
Them, pound them, pound them. Let's get the ball off
this when we sat.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Down, fifth sack of the game. You can't keep this
tea line down, John Cope.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
You're gonna get you to see the or man, the
awesome seeing what you're doing as a former player. You
just heard Raiders coach Antonio Peers from the sideline, and
we know in the locker room he loves to scream Raytors. Well,
you're gonna love hearing him screaming what he told me
in this interview.
Speaker 8 (20:19):
Something I grew up with right as a kid, hearing
that and saying it that. You know, you go to
the league, play some football and do some other things,
and then you know linebacker coaching, you kind of a
foot soldier and you just fall in line and you're
looking around like we're missing something. So after that first win,
was it get an interviewed by Tracy and I was
just like it just came out. It was just be honest,
(20:42):
it was just it wasn't planned. I didn't think nothing
of it. Then when I got in a locker room,
I can just look at all the guys there, eight
people who gonna do and boom, I just let it
out and it's one of those moments like you know
what you're saying that right, something's good happen, right, either
you win a game or you become a head coach
of Las Vegas Raiders. He started the press conference off
(21:03):
that way, but to me, it's just that that's Rader nation.
They understand it. You know, maybe everybody doesn't like coach
didn't do that? Why not?
Speaker 10 (21:12):
Why not?
Speaker 8 (21:13):
You know? And it's something now looking at it beside
Christian Wilkins and then he starts his press conference then,
so so you know, it's just something that's contagious. I
think our team, I know, our fan base. I didn't
think our organization has really you know, embraced that. And
that's a good thing.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Well what about that, because I mean clearly so coach
and do that you're your authentic you.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
And how do you think that translates to players?
Speaker 8 (21:38):
Well, they read through the BS I did an awesome
player especially now with these players because everything they do
is it's growing, right, so they get.
Speaker 10 (21:46):
A lot of information more than we got.
Speaker 8 (21:48):
But it's easier to be yourself and never have to
fake it because I'm out line, you know, I never
have to worry about what I said or what I'm
doing or saying that the right way because it just
comes out. And I try to myself as much as possible.
But when I played, I didn't filter myself. When I
lived my life as a normal person every day, when
I go back to being just Antonio Pierce walking down
the street, I could be myself, and damn it, why
(22:10):
not when I'm the RAIDERO coach, just be myself.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
I love that so so tell me that you talk
about these players today.
Speaker 10 (22:16):
Hey, it's the Instagram.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
It's just that, like when you played like you were
a g right, you are like that that tough dude.
How do you have to maybe adjust to relate to
the players too who have all this information are constantly
posting that should have to say, Okay, I know how
I used to roll. Maybe you're a little differently, but
we're gonna come to a happy medium to get the best.
Speaker 10 (22:36):
Sute of you.
Speaker 8 (22:37):
Yeah. I mean one thing about it that I'm a
familion and I think I'm a master puppeteer. I could
read the room, I could read people. I'm good with people.
My way isn't the right way for everybody, and it's
not for everybody, and it's not for every team. It's
not favorite owners, not for everye player. But that's a
good part about being a head coach. Now I get
to choose those guys. I get to find my my
(23:00):
identity and my personality and the players that we're bringing in.
And they might not be the same way I am,
but they might not be Oh my god, and all
this energy and all this oh my god, that's passionate
about the game football. But one thing about it, they
better love the damn game. They better love coming to work.
They will come in with a smile on their face.
That doesn't change. If it does, it needs to go
somewhere else. So how do I relate? It's simple. You
(23:21):
just fight out their core. You find out what makes
them click and tick. You made relationships. Half the time,
we don't eve talk about football. We're in the building
this offseason, we're not talking about football. Phase one. They
ain't about football. It's about people. Once you get the
people and you get the relationships. When it gets hard
in the month of August, then you get to the
ny degree.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
So to that point, Max Crosby, you're all pro D
and your edge Russia. He pounded the table for you
to get this job right. You're talking about relationships. He's
the dude who's got the most cache in that locker room.
When you have a guy like him, who's so respected
by his peer few league stand up for you and
(24:03):
take some of the personal accountability he has for himself.
How much do you think that gets the ball rolling
towards where you guys want to go.
Speaker 8 (24:11):
It's huge. I'm gonna go back to the first day
I walked in the building February fifteenth, twenty twenty two,
six am. The first guy that needs me at the
door match Crossby. That's my introduction to Max, and I
never felt so much energy from another player before. I'm like, God, damn,
what is this.
Speaker 10 (24:29):
It's different.
Speaker 8 (24:30):
So I'm kind of taking back by it. And then
I watched him that whole off season six am, six am,
six am, So I go downstairs and we started having conversations,
non football related, talking about his past. I got to
where he's at today, where he wants to be, and
then all of a sudden he starts quizzing me what
was it like playing with Bruce Smith? What was the
(24:51):
like playing with Michael strahand those defenses you had in
New York. He wants to be educated. And then we
get into the season and we're doing, you know, just
stuff out on the field. Let's just say, off season
running half gassers. I'm watching this dude run with DB's
and receivers. Let me go out there and run with him.
Our relationship is to me, I think deeper in football,
(25:13):
it's personal. I think Max he's a little bit of
himself and me, and I see myself and him. But
to have Max speak up and say what he said,
that's different. I had to tell him pump the breaks
a little bit.
Speaker 9 (25:26):
You know.
Speaker 8 (25:26):
I want to pick some Martin Davis off. But when
you do have a voice as a player, it's okay
to use it. He's a raider, and sometimes raiders do
things that's not normal and maybe not accepted by everybody
else and.
Speaker 10 (25:39):
Not the norm.
Speaker 8 (25:40):
But when you have your best player showing up each
and every day and saying that's the man that I
want to play for, we have no other way but
to follow suit. But it's not because of that, it's
also because we're playing the Chiefs. Max hasn't practiced all week.
He's in a hospital bed need looking like a watermelon.
(26:01):
And we go off for pregame and everybody's telling me,
do not play them, and I'm looking at him hyed eye.
I said, you sure, and he told me I can
do this. And it's different when a former player like
myself looks at another player and you can look in
his eye and say he's gonna be okay. But then
(26:21):
also to say, listen, if you get up slow, are
you doing anything that's like I got to pull you
out right, and we have that gentleman handshake. Then you
can make the decision that we made with Max on Christmas,
on that Thanksgiving or ekping that Kansas Chiefs game. But
at the end of the day, man Max is to
face the franchise. He puts his heart and soul into
that bad boy. The effort, the passion, the love for
(26:43):
the Raid organization, the Raider fan base is unmatched, and
he sets the tone. I know it's a head coach,
but Max, so he told me to reach an interview
I did with him, and he has been preaching accountability
to the guys in the defensive front.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
He's got ten guys already training with him every morning.
When you see that, it's just first off, is this different?
Speaker 10 (27:09):
Like? Is this a change not in him but in
your building? Without a doubt.
Speaker 8 (27:14):
I mean, ever since the team that was in our
building for the Super Bowl left team in Red, it's
been a match across for show. And he brought his
friends because, like I told you, when I first showed
up on February fifteenth, two, it was only backs. If
you walk in that building Monday, you want to see
twenty five to thirty guys in there. Duvonta Adams, the
entire D line, DB's Hey, guys, you ain't got to be.
Speaker 10 (27:37):
Here till April fifteenth.
Speaker 8 (27:38):
It's okay, slow down, but that's not how we're rolling
no more So how does that make you feel? I
know we're coming, I know we're ready. I know we're
building something special. I don't know what it is. I
don't know when it's going to happen. I don't know
if it's this year, next year. But I know the cultures, right,
I know the mindsets right. I know it's strictly business
in that building. And then when we're off the building,
we have fun doing and doing it together.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Okay, so now part of what you guys have to
figure out and if tickets and stept to your quarterback, right,
you got Gardner Minshew in there, You've got Aiden in there.
But how do you plan to continue to address that?
But you guys are picking at thirteen. It's a good
enough Maybe it's a good number if you stay there.
But you know, how do you guys get to continue
(28:21):
to address that? Well, you know you can't have two
quarterbacks on the roster, right, So we know we got
to ask. So okay, the next wave is is the draft.
Speaker 10 (28:31):
So let's see.
Speaker 8 (28:32):
I got toom celesko in there, got that got the
figure out what he got up to sleep. You know
he's done it for a long time. I got a
lot of trust in him. I think he's seen it
wherever he's been, right right, Peate Manning, Andrew Luck becomes
a GM with the Chargers, Philip Rivers justin Herbert. So
(28:52):
you know something about quarterbacks? He does, So I don't
let him figure it out. I'll let them figure it out.
But I know this, like, we got to get another
quarterback in the room.
Speaker 10 (28:59):
We know that.
Speaker 8 (29:00):
But then Dave listen, ain't no Common played his ass off.
He did a hell of a job for us. First
game he ever played, Chargers went six sun stacks during
the ball over critical interception the red zone. We played
the Minnesota Vikings later this season, who said, comes back
out lights it up. So you're talking about a kid
(29:21):
that has the mental toughness to play the National Football League,
whatever happens, and whatever we do, and he got to
go through eight and o'conno being honest.
Speaker 10 (29:28):
With you because he's earned that right. Okay, But like
anybody else, it's.
Speaker 8 (29:32):
All about competition, and if we can make that room
the most competitive room on our team, the quarterback room
will be a good football.
Speaker 10 (29:38):
To hell man.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
All right. First off, some of the fantastic stuff he said,
the Max he is, I mean, you know, as I
was doing the interview, I'm.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
Kind of like, Okay, I'm getting worked up here right
like he's I get it, like I feel it. And
then when I rewatch the interview, I'm like, Okay, I
feel it. I mean, he knows his locker room and
the fact that he's talking about Max Crosby and the
way Max has got these guys going, and he's got
that energy, which is his energy, and now he's in
(30:10):
a position to pick the guys who could continue to
convey that energy. It's just absolutely fantastic. Now we'll see
if it works. You know, he talked about, hey, he
is not everybody's cup of tea. You know he was
you know, we didn't know he was going to be
available for the Raiders head coach or other head coaching jobs.
But one of the words out there was like, he's
(30:31):
such a Raider, we don't know if he'd be just
as invested in our club because he's been so outspoken
about wearing the silver and black.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
My favorite thing of that whole interview, Steve, was when
you got him rolling on the defensive line. You bring
in Christian Wilkins, you got Max Crosby, Malcolm Coots, and
the young Buck, the first round pick from the Erego.
On the other side, Tyree Wilson Man calls him the
four horsemen, that the four horsemen ready to ride, and
some guys.
Speaker 4 (30:53):
Are just speaking sound bites. Ap is one of those guys.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
The big question is going to be and you talked
to him about it, right, there's gonna be the courquarterback.
Now he says anything we do goes through Aid and O'Connell.
In other words, and I get this APB and a
former player.
Speaker 4 (31:06):
Hey, that guy was the starter. He won some games
for you last year.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
So he starts out atop the depth chart, something that
Kenny Pickett probably was hoping he was going to hear
in Pittsburg until he did it. But you know you're
going to add to that rook you brought into Gardner Minshew.
He gave him a pretty good contract fifteen million dollars
fully guaranteed. That's significant. It's very obvious the Raiders have
designs on going and drafted a quarterback here. Tom Telesco
in his history with the Chargers rarely traded up in
(31:30):
round one, but Mark Davis, Antonio Pierce every single time
that they sat down with GM candidates. How do we
go and get the quarterback? That's what they're going to
be attempting to do. Figure out, all right, who can
we move up for here? Jayden Daniels makes a lot
of sense. Got the history of Antonio Pierce going back
to Arizona State. I also can see Michael Pennix in
(31:52):
a logical pick for the Raiders kind of fits the
mold that we've seen in the past that Tom Telesco
likes in quarter I think the entire thing is fascinating.
I do know this, They got further to go than
some of the other teams. We're going to be trying
to trade up, which means the price is that much steeple.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
Yeah, they don't have quite the freight to move up,
but they're not gonna be afraid to go ahead and
do it because they know they think this roster is
pretty darn good and that if they get their quarterback
to build around, that's gonna be the guy where and
O'Connell throw that pass right there, but it goes through him,
But it might go through him.
Speaker 1 (32:27):
I mean again, speak with Antonio.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
I got every feeling that they're gonna go out and
draft one of these quarterbacks unless there's just something a
medical or something to knock somebody off their board, like
a Michael Pennix.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
But they drafted Terry Wilson last year with a bad foot. Correct,
it's the Raiders.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
There's thirty two different teams with thirty two doctors, thirty
two degrees of risk tolerance.
Speaker 4 (32:45):
Raiders historically have had a little bit more risk tolerance.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
So again, Michael Pennix, who would be talking about is
a sure fire.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
First round pick, but for the medical I wouldn't rule
out that possibility.
Speaker 2 (32:54):
When we were out at all on Tom, you got
something coming up from a coach who just got a
new running back to help his team.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
That's right, Saquon Barkley is now a Philadelphia Eagle. Nick
Sirianni speaking for the first time, and what it means
not just to get Saquon, but to get him from
your division rival. We'll also talk about what went wrong
down the stretch for the Eagles last season and how
Sirianni intends to fix it in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 4 (33:19):
That's up next to the NFL Report.
Speaker 1 (33:32):
Hey love you, Hey.
Speaker 4 (33:35):
Washington seventeen, Eagles seven.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
This is where y'all change it.
Speaker 8 (33:39):
Let's go.
Speaker 4 (33:39):
He mclaurton couldn't get the feet in. It's a good judge.
You probably all though you're doing it right.
Speaker 10 (33:46):
Job, Go and back in the field goal range.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
All right, field goal.
Speaker 4 (33:51):
I don't watch field goals.
Speaker 9 (33:52):
Did I look at coach Clay he points at me
or he gives me one of these like if we
missed it is.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
We won pretty much every way.
Speaker 8 (34:02):
You can win in this league.
Speaker 3 (34:04):
Everybody remembers how the Eagles twenty twenty three season finished.
Speaker 4 (34:08):
There was a time Steve there in the.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Competition in the running for the number one, yes overall
seed in the NFC, things got a little bit haywire.
It made a lot of changes. Since I got a
chance to sit down in recent days here in Orlando,
Tom Pilizero Steve White for the NFL Report from the
NFL Annual Meeting and talked about one of those new
big additions, Saquon Barkley, as well as a question that
started out as what is the state of the twenty
(34:32):
twenty fourth Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 4 (34:33):
Siriani gave what I thought was a fascinating response, just.
Speaker 9 (34:39):
Looking to take it one day at a time, and
you know, I think that, you know, coming off of
the two thousand and twenty two season, you think to yourself, man,
we got to do what we got to do to
get back to where we were so close. And I
think that, you know, it really just proved to you
that you really just got to take things one day
(35:00):
at a time. And so right now, you know, we've
had a you know, I think by a lot of accounts,
we've had a great off season so far, and you know,
got to keep doing that through the through the draft,
and and we'll take that one day at a time
that will lead into the training camp and and O
T A. S. And you know, just looking forward to
to building the team and you know, coming close as
(35:21):
a team.
Speaker 10 (35:21):
So we talked about doing it one day at a time.
We're some guys getting ahead.
Speaker 9 (35:25):
Of themselves in terms of I would say that was
I wouldn't say some guys say me, I'd look at
myself in the mirror.
Speaker 4 (35:30):
First.
Speaker 10 (35:30):
I think we all we all did you know, we
had a lot of you know, we had When you.
Speaker 9 (35:35):
Get close like that and you want to and you
want to be back so bad, I think it's it's
it's easy to find yourself looking up to the top
of the mountain and saying I got to get back there.
And it really does take one day at a time.
And what a great lesson for us last year. And
so the state of the Philadelphia Eagles is where where
where we are want to be right now. And so
(35:55):
that gives me an opportunity not to not to side
step your question, but it is where we want to
be as far as just hey, we're here, we're in
this off season part portion of it. Players get to
come in here in a couple of weeks, we get
to get going on some O TA stuff and get
them lifting and getting to be together and getting in
the classroom.
Speaker 10 (36:13):
So we're looking forward to that as we as we approach.
Speaker 3 (36:15):
So since last time we saw you, he signed Squon Barkley.
Take me through that process and why now is the
time to convince how we just spend.
Speaker 10 (36:24):
On a running back?
Speaker 8 (36:25):
Uh?
Speaker 9 (36:25):
Well, just so so grateful to how he he's just
always looking to improve our football team. I really, you know,
just he works tiresly to improve our team and really
grateful to be around that. Really excited obviously about about
Saquon and the things that he can do.
Speaker 10 (36:47):
You know, just such a dynamic football player both with
you know.
Speaker 9 (36:50):
Both as a as an actual running back and then
also the things he can do as a as a
pass catcher, and so just you know, he's just going
to bring an element to our offense and to our team.
You know, as much as we see him, you know,
all the highlights that we see on the on the tape. Uh,
you know, from my understanding and all our homework, he's
(37:12):
such a good leader and a teammate as well. So
to be able to add that into our locker room
not only the playmaking ability, but to the person is
really is really important. And so you know, and and
to be able to like how many times have I
watched him on the opposite sideline playing him Two times
this last year, three times the year before, two times
(37:33):
the year before. It is like, man, we don't have
to play against that guy anymore. Great, Oh, he's on
our team even more, even more perfect. And so that's
that's exciting that, you know, because we've seen him up
close and personal and we just know how good of
a football player he is, you know, and he's he's
big man, he's hard to tackle, and you know when
(37:55):
it gets cold there in the Northeast that the you know,
in the December and January, looking forward to having him
on our sideline where he wears down that defense and
it's hard to tackle him. It's hard to tackle him
in September two, let's be honest, but really looking forward
to all that.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Saquon Barkley has caused a lot of problems for Nick
Sirianni and a lot of other.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
People through the years. Here now he is on the
Eagles side.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
He grew up like an hour outside of Philadelphia, so
it's a homecoming for Saquon as well. An aggressive move
Steve from an Eagles team that historically hasn't paid big
for running backs, but they're making a big bet that
Saquon's a difference maker.
Speaker 10 (38:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:33):
Look, they give up on DeAndre Swift because they knew
they could get somebody who's more physical. Right at Saquon Barkley.
It's a durability issue for Saquon Barkley. That's the only
thing if he stays on the field behind this offensive line. Yes,
I lost Jason Kelsey by those slide Cam Jurgens over,
They've got some.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
Players in place. He is going to add a lot.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
And I like what you said about the cold weather,
and it made it seem like, hmm, they played in
cold weather a lot last year during that skid.
Speaker 1 (38:59):
Maybe there were some shoes.
Speaker 2 (39:00):
Now we've got a guy who's played in cold weather
his whole life who could possibly help us. By Tom,
I want to backtrack to the front end of that
interview where he was talking about we're doing things day
by day and it wasn't a cliche day by day
where he talked about that maybe we got out a
little ahead of ourselves. To me, I took that as
maybe we thought we were better than we actually were
(39:23):
and didn't put in as the new coach speaker.
Speaker 1 (39:26):
Is the strain or the grind that we needed to
to be a good football team.
Speaker 3 (39:31):
Some of the little things sometimes can slip through the
cranks here, and you saw that down the stretch. They
had that game against San Francisco. Yeah, a lot of
stuff happened in that game. It was an ugly showing
and they never fully recovered. I also had Siriani about
Jalen Hurts and where he stands, kind of deferred to
the fact that listening above all else, you know this
about Jalen Hurts. He's going to work at it. He's
(39:51):
an unbelievably hard worker. That's what he's going to.
Speaker 4 (39:54):
Fall back upon throughout the course of this process. Listen.
They got to get it going on both sides of
the ball.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
They got new coordinators killing more there now, right Vic
Fangio Over on the defensive side of the ball, you
bring back a juice guy like Chauncey Gardner, John Hoboy
in your secondary is gonna be part of your identity
and the everything that Syrianna brought up leadership with Saquon,
you lose Jason Kelcey, you lose Fletcher Cox.
Speaker 4 (40:14):
There is a leadership voice.
Speaker 3 (40:15):
They got Brandon Graham and Lane Johnson some of the
other guys, but you need some people, some of those
young players to step in as the leaders.
Speaker 2 (40:23):
Yeah, and a lot of times you try to import leadership.
It doesn't always work. But Saquon's got the gravitas from
a team that's faced him twice a year to come
in and make it work.
Speaker 1 (40:33):
Well, Tom, guess what we have coming up next. We've
got an owner.
Speaker 2 (40:37):
We've got Vikings co owner Mark Wilf and we've got
some questions for him.
Speaker 4 (40:42):
Who's your quarterback? Mark?
Speaker 2 (40:43):
Who is your quarterback? And what about that superstar widers here?
But no, not Jordan Addison but the other one. Oh,
we got questions from Mark, and we'll get some answered
next on the NFL. Mark, all right, we are back
(41:09):
at the NFL Report and Tom Pellicero, we are now
joined by a special guests, Viking's co owner Mark with Mark.
Speaker 1 (41:17):
Thank you so much for joining us here.
Speaker 4 (41:18):
Thanks for having us taking time out of.
Speaker 1 (41:20):
A busy day.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
Tom and I were wondering if you're like escaping from
all of these monotonous meetings just to come spend time
with us.
Speaker 4 (41:25):
Get a outdoor here. Yeah, absolutely so.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
Mark, you know, just to start things off.
Speaker 2 (41:30):
Of course, the vikings a big conversation leading into the draft,
your quarterback spot. Are you pushing the guys to go
ahead and get somebody in it? We know you signed
Sam Donald.
Speaker 13 (41:42):
But well we love Sam Donald, but you know, when
it comes to the quarterbacks position, it's certainly critical. And
Quacy and coach O'Connell are working hard. We've got a
plan and Sam Donald's part of it, and we're excited.
He's in the building and we're excited. We have two
first picks, so we'll see where it all goes. We
have a lot of flexibility and we'll.
Speaker 4 (42:04):
See what happens.
Speaker 3 (42:05):
Some of the teams that are in the quarterback market,
they've had their owners and their team presidents among others
in the interview process. As you said, it's a very unique,
very important position. How involved do you and Ziggy get
through this process?
Speaker 13 (42:17):
Well, it was shirinly engaged all the time with Quasi
and coach and Robert Zinski the whole the whole football operations,
and we have a lot of confidence that they know
what they're doing, they've got the right ideas, and we're
behind them and the extent they're gonna want further involvement
from us, we're there to help.
Speaker 4 (42:32):
But again, we know what we know and we know
what they know and they'll get it right.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
Oh, I sounded like, guys, a good detailed plan going
on right there. We also know one of the bigger
things going around with the Vikings is Justin Jefferson. At
some point there's gonna be extension.
Speaker 1 (42:48):
Talks or something like that. Have those started well.
Speaker 13 (42:51):
We had great positive conversations last season, and then we're
looking forward to more positive conversations this offseason. Justin Jefferson
is a unique talent, best in the game, and we're
excited he's in Minnesota Viking and not only is he
a great player, he's become a great leader of our
locker room and he's great in the community. So the
thrills he gives the fans on the field and just
the way he carries himself. We're looking forward to some
(43:13):
real positive conversations.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
So even if Quasi comes to you and goes markets,
we made it a real strong rung because you guys
did last year to try to get the extension.
Speaker 4 (43:21):
It's just not gonna happen. But I can get three
first round picks for Justin Jefferson. How are you feeling again?
Speaker 8 (43:26):
Right now?
Speaker 13 (43:27):
We're focused on getting that guy on our field with
the purple and he looks great.
Speaker 4 (43:31):
In purple, and we're gonna do our best to keep
it that way.
Speaker 1 (43:33):
You talked about making a move to get a second
first round draft pick.
Speaker 2 (43:37):
I mean that that takes you know, a lot of
you know, I guess to say it, But what about
the job quation if Kevin have done not only winning
ball games in a few years they've been together, but
the plan that they have constructed for you guys to
have short and long.
Speaker 13 (43:53):
Term success, well that's that's that's our where we're looking at.
We're trying to get sustained success. We want to win
super Bowls. We want to get over that line. And
we have a lot of confidence in Quacy and coach O'Connell.
Speaker 4 (44:04):
They're working great together.
Speaker 13 (44:06):
Our coaching staff, our personal staff working really hard and
having the two first round picks gives us a lot
of flexibility and that's great.
Speaker 4 (44:13):
Whether it's uptown or in the middle.
Speaker 1 (44:16):
We know with this deep draft here, we're going to
be okay.
Speaker 4 (44:19):
Mark, As you know, I live up in Minneapolis.
Speaker 3 (44:21):
I've covered ount know how many of your games throughout
your entire ownership tenure. Almost everybody that I remember is gone.
The locker room has completely changed over. There's one guy left.
His name is Harrison Smith. Another restructured deal to continue
to have Harrison Smith, who, in my opinion, is a
Hall of Fame caliber safety or the longest running Vikings
(44:41):
in the modern era.
Speaker 4 (44:42):
What does it mean to you? And the organization couldn't
agree more.
Speaker 13 (44:45):
I mean entering his thirteenth season now, I mean just
an incredible player, a great leader, and we couldn't be
happier for him and his family that he's back with
us this coming year. And we agree with you, and
we're just excited to have him back. And he's just
such a such a great presence on the field and
great in the locker room. So the way he carries himself,
(45:06):
we're really really proud. One of the greatest picks in
Vikings history, and he's proven it.
Speaker 1 (45:11):
On the field.
Speaker 3 (45:11):
I was thinking that, you know, when you guys were
going through the contract situation with Harrison. If it didn't
work out in Minnesota, maybe join your former head.
Speaker 4 (45:18):
Coach in Dallas. What do you think about Zim being
back in the league here.
Speaker 13 (45:23):
We're happy for coach Zim and I know he'll do
a great job in Dallas. He's just one of the
great defensive minds and he's in the right position there
and again, great memories with coach Zimmer and we wish
him all the best.
Speaker 2 (45:38):
So you guys have been doing more of the talking
vikings here, you owners, and this morning after the Competition Committee,
you guys did vote to ban the swivel hip drop tackle.
Could you kind of walk us through the decision because
we heard it was unanimous vote to get that play
out of the game.
Speaker 13 (45:56):
I think, you know, the focus on health and safety
is very real and it really comes around every year
at these meetings, and we applaud the league, the commissioner
and the focus that's put on health and safety. And
that's really what this whole rule is about. We're just
trying to make the game out there safer for the players,
and I think that's been proven out. The statistics are
(46:17):
injuries are down from the years prior and This is
just a continuing of that effort, and that's why it
passed unanimously.
Speaker 3 (46:23):
The kickoff plays another one that we're talking about. Because
of the high injury rates, it's changed for the last
five years. Special teams coordinators have to keep adjusting. What
we're talking about now, though, is something pretty radical and
what they're calling the NFL hybrid kickoff, with the kickoff
and the return teams both on the opposite side.
Speaker 4 (46:40):
Of the field.
Speaker 3 (46:41):
You can't move until the ball hits the ground or
is caught. There's a landing zone there. It's literally a
ten page type of report in the room when it's
being presented. I know Darren Rizzy, John Fossil and others
were here.
Speaker 4 (46:53):
How is it received? How much do you get it?
Is this actually what's going to have? Well, it's still ongoing.
Speaker 13 (47:00):
You know what's great about the NFL and football, of
all the major sports football, we're not afraid to make
the game better, make the game better for players and
more importantly for the fans.
Speaker 4 (47:11):
It's just a great game.
Speaker 13 (47:12):
And I know there's a lot of conversation and it's
about health and safety. We want to get the kickoff back.
It's such a great play and it's kind of gone
away the amount of touchbacks, to not have a single
touch back in the Super Bowl, things like that, and
we're supportive of putting in a kickoff rule. There's little
conversations ongoing on that. We'll see where it all falls out.
So I applaud the league for making the effort and
(47:34):
we look forward to having it back. But again with
health and safety still in mind, do.
Speaker 1 (47:38):
You think you have a ruling on it.
Speaker 2 (47:39):
Ris McKay did say he's hoping by the time this
meeting ends, you'll all be able to have some conclusion
because you have.
Speaker 1 (47:45):
To build your rosters and this new rule could change
some of the type of personality.
Speaker 4 (47:49):
You Well, that is the goal.
Speaker 13 (47:51):
We'll defer to Chairman McKay on the politics of all this,
but again we're very supportive of trying to get a
kickoff play back for the fans and for the players,
and to make it as safe.
Speaker 4 (48:00):
And healthy as possible.
Speaker 3 (48:02):
And there's a lot of things for you guys, for
Vikings fans to be excited about looking forward to twenty
twenty four. You're going back to London, you get a
fully healthy Justin Jefferson back on the field.
Speaker 4 (48:11):
But national media wise, there's not a lot of Vikings discussions.
Speaker 3 (48:14):
The Bears have the number one pick, it's the Packers
on the rise game with Jordan Love.
Speaker 4 (48:17):
The Lions were just on the presspae of the Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (48:20):
How bad do you want to get to September and
go out there and reboot after everything you guys went
through last year?
Speaker 13 (48:25):
Absolutely, and no one's ever won a Super Bowl at
an owner's meeting in March. So that's what it's all about.
And we're excited, and you know, we talk a lot
about quarterback. I'm super excited about the defensive pickups we
made in the free agency so far, and coach Flores,
a coordinator of our defense, I know we're going to
be a lot better there as well.
Speaker 4 (48:42):
So there's a lot to look.
Speaker 13 (48:43):
Forward to and looking forward to get some wins.
Speaker 2 (48:46):
Well, Mark, as a Minneapolis native who grew up with
the Purple People leaders and Chuck Forman and France Tarkitin,
it is always good to talk about the Minnesota Vikings,
and thank you so much for joining us.
Speaker 1 (48:57):
Great to be with you.
Speaker 4 (48:58):
Thank you Skull.
Speaker 1 (48:59):
There you go, Mark, Well listen.
Speaker 2 (49:01):
Concluding a fantastic and loaded NFL report, make sure to
watch Tom Ian and Mike on The Insiders Tuesday from
the League meetings at one pm, and James Palmer and I.
We will not be here Thursday, but we will be
back next Monday for the NFL Report.
Speaker 1 (49:18):
Don't forget this is a podcast, Come on seven pm,
streaming live on all of your free streaming apps.
Speaker 2 (49:26):
Tom tell Us, Joe, thanks so much for joining us
again as Mark Wilf and we are out
This is Jason Knight, general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
and this is the NFL Report.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hi, Welcome to the NFL Report. I'm Steve Whitch with
Tom Pellis Sarah filling in for James Palmer, who's on
the slopes.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Tom.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
We are in Orlando, Florida at the annual NFL Meeting.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
And what a show that we have today.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
We're gonna hear from Antonio Pierce, the Raiders head coach,
from the coaches of the team, to the top three
draft picks, and we're gonna be joined by Vikings co
owner Mark wil.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Should be a lot of fun here. We got a
lot of action already. We got rules changing, yep. We
got coaches dining and talking to the media for the
first time since free agency.
Speaker 4 (00:41):
A lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Rules change is also going to be joined by Tom's
fellow in Tigers, Mark Garrafollo and Ian Rappaport in just
a minute. But the big news of the morning, Steelers
coach Mike Tomlin sitting down with the media addressing his
new quarterback row.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
We're not resistant the competition, but as I've mentioned several
times of late, I just think it's appropriate to establish
positioning as we get into this thing, and the term
that I've used is Russell has polled position. And why
do I use that term because during this time where
we are not formally working, man, I just think it's
(01:17):
beneficial his experience in the National Football League, his process
that's been honed and perfected. Talking about over a twelve
month calendar is not only good for him, it's good
for teams.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
So Tom here, Mike Tomlin talking about that Russell Wilson,
who they acquired, you know, and for one point two
million dollars in justin field. So they got for a
twenty twenty five draft pick. They're in the quarterback room now.
He said, we're going to leave it over for a competition,
but I'm putting Russell Wilson there first.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
He's giving me the first guy to take some reps.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Mike Tomlin has not been in this position since he's
been the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. What do
you kind of take for him from him basically saying
Russell is going to start out as the guy.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Well, Mike Tomlin is a big believer in having a
depth chart even going into the offseason. And to clarify
people's roles, the expectations. It removes a lot of the
ambiguity and the questions you get through the course of
this offseason. So we reported shortly after Ian broke the
trade of Justin Field's going to Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
I tweeted it. I was told Russell Wilson is the starter.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
Whole position is a little bit of a head said, well,
Justin Fields, who we get into camp, we get into
the games, who get an opportunity to show his abilities,
as only Mike Tomlin can say here, but listen, they
want to put everything they have behind Russell Wilson. He's
the veteran, He's the guy who really intrigued Mike Tomlin.
Tom talked about this too at the breakfast, saying that
(02:43):
this is a guy who was really driven to define
his career and that's something that's spoke right. In other words,
Russell Wilson's gotten kicked around. He's gone from being let
Russ Cook, let him throw it around, super Bowl champ,
maybe a future Hall of Famer, to a guy who's
been a punchline for a couple of years here going
back to the end in Seattle and obviously a couple
of tumultuous seasons, I think it's fair.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
To say in Denver here.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
So now he goes into Pittsburgh and it's still announced
with a video on social media, and he's still posting
the workout videos.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
Russ is going to be Russ.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
However, for the way that they want to play, it's
kind of a throwback to what Russell Wilson grew up in.
Play good defense, run the heck out of the football,
and have a veteran quarterback who's going to protect the
ball make a few plays when he might need it.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
And that's important because Arthur Smith, the former Falcons head coach,
is now the offensive coordinator for Pittsburgh and what was
the identity of the Falcons they ran the football. One
thing Tomlin also said, which he enambered him with Russell Wilson,
is when they started speaking to him in this process,
Russell had done his homework on the Steelers their kind
of background, not history, but how Arthur Smith wants to
(03:51):
run this offense.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
So that really spoke to him as well.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Again, as Mike Tomlin is changing over his quarterback room,
tom we also have some changes coming to the NFL
next year. Here at the Owners meeting. The Competition Committee
already has voted among its owners to ban the swivel
hip drop tackle, and JJ Watt says, just fast forward
(04:14):
to the belts with flags on him.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Here comes He's you just saying we're not playing anymore.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
J jaths Ah, But Jonathan Grenard's playing the new Vikings
defensive end, penalizing defenders for trying to tackle a runner
who has the option to.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Go down to prevent injury. Yeah, makes sense.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
So this is another interesting take because we know the
NFLPA the players didn't like that, but here we go,
Jonathan Gernard more. You can't ban something and not show
us the alternatives, like, come.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
On, rest assured.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
There will be a tape Jonathan that you will have
to watch in camp and you can ask all the questions.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
The league will do the tour. They'll show us probably the.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Same tape with a few alternatives that they showed in
the press conference earlier today. Listen when Roger Gondale, Troy Vincent,
Rich McKay all come out in recent months and say
very clear, this is a play we want to get
out of the game, no matter what the opposition is
for players or anyone else.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
This was what was going to happen.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
All right, Tom, Now we're joined by your fellow in
Tiler's Mike, you're a follow Ian Rappaporton.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Guys, thanks for joining us. That's been a long day.
But the banning of the swivel hip drop tackle, Mike,
we're expecting this when we came here, but let's explain
for folks exactly what's being banned and why.
Speaker 6 (05:26):
Yeah, because there is a lot of reaction to this
because the thought is this happens so often in a game,
and it's gonna be flags all over the place. What
the NFL has said with Rich McKay, the chairman of
the Competition Committee said, what Jeff Miller, the NFL executive,
tried to make clear is that it's not that common
of an occurrence because it's not just a hip drop.
It is the swivel hip droppers. They really did not
(05:47):
hammer home last week. The home once we got here,
all of a sudden, it was like, let's emphasize the
swivel part and that is the coming up off the ground.
You can't really tell them on that one. We'll see
another one coming up here, but.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
It is the not a good sign.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Mike, first highlight, well, you can't really tell there, well
grab this is the one.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Right here the market, but he was already on this right,
this was on the ground, but this was the mark
Andrews injury was the one that really well, it's it's.
Speaker 6 (06:12):
The thought is you grabbed the ball carrier with two hands,
then you as a defender, lift yourself into the air
with some kind of swivel motion potentially, and then you
come down on the player in a way that you're
driving his ankles and knees into the ground. You're resulting
in the high ankle sprains and these types of things.
They found based on what they did from their review
of the NFL two hundred and thirty instances, which is
(06:33):
what less than one per game, So don't panic. Don't
be thinking this is gonna happen like five or six
times a game.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (06:40):
And of those tackles, fifteen resulted in an injury with
a player missing a game going forward. So it is
a high incidence if you're looking at in that regard
as far as injury. I talked to John Marra, who's
you know, been in the competition committee probably longer than anybody,
and what he said Ian is that it's something that
had to be taken out of the game.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
They understood the defensive players were going to.
Speaker 6 (06:59):
Be upset it, but they've adapted to other things like
the horse cower attacking tackle, and they feel like they're gonna.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Adapt to this.
Speaker 7 (07:04):
Yeah, I though Jeff Miller, one of the NFL's executives
on health and safety, explained it well, and you know,
he essentially brought up the reaction from defensive players, said, well,
you tell us we can't do anything, what can we do?
And then his answer was definitely not that. And to me,
like you watch the Mark andrews logan Wilson play where
he basically breaks his leg based on being a defensive
(07:25):
player and a tackle, and it's like, whatever you can
do to make sure that one of the best weapons
in the game doesn't get a broken leg on a
routine tackle, whatever you can do to make sure that
doesn't happen.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
I'm good with that rule and I've been not surprised.
Speaker 7 (07:39):
But you know, eyebrow raised a little bit of some
of the defensive players weighing in on some of these,
you know, on the rules change, because the reality is
it is a tackle that routinely injures their fellow players
and fellow union members.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
They should be for this, not against it.
Speaker 8 (07:58):
And I'm a little surprised by.
Speaker 6 (07:59):
It, which is why the union stance on this is
the most interesting aspect of me, because it's a lot
easier when it's player against team, go back to player,
it's easy, right. In this case, it's half the players
are against the defensive side of the ball, and the
players in the offensive side of the ball are obviously said, hey,
anything you can do it protect us and help us
out here.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
So it's like which.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Side do they take? And they came down strongly onside.
But here's the player.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
They announced this again, we knew this was coming, but
they announced it at the same time. They say, well,
defenses have caught up because we see that scoring is down.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
So now the defensive players are saying.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
We finally make some headway.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
And now you're doing something to ban a tackle. Look.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
I spoke to say, you're Franklin, the linebacker for the Colts,
who said, we don't go into any place saying we're
going to tackle tackle a player this way. Yeah, A
lot of times, like Logan Wilson against Mark Ansch is
a smaller player trying to bring down a bigger dude.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Because you can no longer maybe drive his helmet into
him or whatever. So this is what it is.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Well and listen to what a unions do. They protect
wages and working conditions. The number one concern here forget it.
Know I'm gonna get penalized because my team, it's are
we all going to get fined for this?
Speaker 4 (09:04):
The number one complain everybody last year with USA helmet.
It wasn't about the very rare times was called in games.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
It was about all the times the guys were getting
fined the next week and the guys like Jalen Warren,
we're losing entire game checks.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
That's what this comes down to.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
My prediction is going to be you will see a
ton of fines during the preseason and because some officials
a lot of times the league will incourage them, hey
through a few so we've got.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
A frame of reference.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
We can look at those plays, what did you see
and then have them be correctable. When we get to
the regular season, it'll be fewer fines still some and it'll
be virtually no flags. That's usually how these things go.
And if it is something that egregious, I don't know that.
There's a lot of people who look at, for instance,
the Geno Smith play where he gets dragged down from
the behind and say, well, that was a tackle that
was necessary on And.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
The one thing they also made clear it was like,
there will be no video replay assistance on this to
help the officials.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Whatever the call is to call will stand.
Speaker 6 (09:59):
Yeah, the only video replay you're gonna see is what
they're gonna send to these teams every week in and
week out and say, hey, here were four instances that
weren't called, and this is something that we're looking to
take out of the game.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
It's it's it's.
Speaker 6 (10:09):
Gonna be hard to officiate, which a lot of things
are hard to officiate, but but some of these are
more cut and dried, right, like the hits to the head,
it's either a hit to a head or it's not
a hit to head. The horse collar you know it
when you see it. Obviously on this one you sort
of know when you see it. But there's gonna be
ones that are gonna be right up against it, and
it's it's it's gonna be a.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Topic of the ones that don't get called. Yeah, it's
gonna be the controversy. It's something obvious that gets called
it's gonna be okay, Yeah, that's fine, it's gonna be Wait,
why wasn't that call? Now that's where you're gonna run
into some issues. And that's where again they're taking their
cue from international rugby. When this same type of tackle
started to get out lawned. It wasn't with penalties or
whatever they called in rugby. I've never watched rugby.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
It was find guys.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Initially, because you're trying to correct the technique without disrupting
the games, we're gonna see the same thing.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
You're a big rugby guy.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
I'm not a big rugby guy, but it's very entertaining
to watch.
Speaker 8 (10:58):
Spend some time in Hong.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Kong and rugby was on.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
Have you ever seen a flag for a hip drop ft?
Do they have flags?
Speaker 9 (11:03):
I know?
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Okay, okay, time to get back on the rails. Eda, Mike,
thank you so much. Everybody.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
You could catch the insiders these three guys tomorrow here
from the league meetings at one pm Eastern time here on.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
The NFL Network, And coming up next we're gonna be
hearing from the coaches with the top three picks in
the NFL Draft. This is good stuff. Come back and
roll that tape.
Speaker 10 (11:26):
LC.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
It's time for the lead block, presented by Team Mobile
for Business, a sport as fast as football deserves America's
fastest five G network. Businesses go further with Team Mobile
for Business.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
A month away from the twenty twenty.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Four NFL Draft, and boy do we got some quarterbacks
for you? Starts with that guy Caleb Williams from USC,
the presumptive number one overall pick. But you got Drake
Mate out of North Carolina. You got guys like Jayden
Daniels out of LSU who could be there. The Bear's
takula lives at number two. Little conversation with Dan Quinn
(12:12):
about that. So based on what you've done and trade
away the guy was the starter last year. Is it
fair to say at this point that you envision taking
a quarterback at number two?
Speaker 11 (12:23):
I would say it'd be fair to envision we'll be
taking a quarterback. To say where it will be happening,
I think that's a better question for Adam. You know,
as the next week's unfold, there'll be a lot of discussion.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Speaking of trades. Is the phone ringing on number two?
And is Adam even allowed to answer it. Yes, I
would say it's ring and because, like you said, the
talent of the group this year, and so I would
anticipate in you know, fielding these calls as it.
Speaker 10 (12:51):
Goes through to it.
Speaker 11 (12:52):
You know, it is part of the process, and you
do have to do your due diligence to listen and
find out just to make sure, like is there something
that you know that you just couldn't refuse. I certainly
walked past it in the hallway, went after the Cowboys,
you know, years ago for a trade that involved herschel
Walker and many of draft picks and changed a lot
of their organization. So I think anybody in personnel with
(13:15):
the with the skill at them, they're going to listen.
But there's only so many things that you would consider,
and it had better be really good.
Speaker 4 (13:24):
Day. Quinn certainly sounds like a guy who in.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
His first year in Washington expects to be getting a
quarterback pretty high here, probably.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
At number two, although he did leave open.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
I mean herschel Walker that was a was a big
time trade, right there, a blockbuster type of deal that
maybe could get them to move and maybe if their
quarterback is not Jayden Dangels, Steve, We'll being.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Back and getting a different cut. That's a big could
make some sense.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
That's a big if, because the one thing at number
two is that's the last spot in this draft where
you know you've got your own opportunity to pick the
guy that you want. Caleb Williams is going to Chicago,
right That's that's money in the bank right there.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
That is that certainly would appear to be the plan.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
That appears to be the plan.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
We got a hedge. Come on, we still got a
month of drama here.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
But time.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
You know, if they trade back now, they're depending on
what happens in front of them to see if they're
gonna get a guy.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
If they come out of this draft.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
And they have an opportunity to get one of the
top quarterbacks and don't, that's a problem for dan Quinn
and the staff as they try to rebuild this roster.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
We see some of the moves that they made.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
You know, they added Austin Eckler, they added some players
up front to help with the team, even to support
a young quarterback. So if they don't take one at
number two.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
What I find fascinating is just the conversations I've had.
I haven't seen Adam Peters here at the NFL Annual
meeting yet. When I've talked to other gms and everybody's
trying to fail what everybody else is doing, more than
one have said to me they think the guy for
Washington is JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 4 (14:48):
Wow, is that the picket too? Is that the trade
down scenario?
Speaker 2 (14:51):
Right?
Speaker 3 (14:51):
I'm not saying that's what happens. I'm not getting that
from Adam Peters or the Washington Commanders. I'm just saying
there are people in the league who believe that their
actual guy.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Remember last time Adam Peters when the situation he's with
the Niners and people were saying, oh, Mac Jones, Mac
Jones is gonna be the Niners quarterback the end with
Trey Lance. Neither has worked out, so they hope things
go better right there. Well, we know who is picking
after the Washington Commanders at number three. That's the New
England Patriots. They also need a quarterback, and I sat
down with their coach, girod Mayo, who, like Dan Quinn,
(15:23):
did not sidestep the fact that getting a quarterback is
a priority.
Speaker 10 (15:29):
It's the priority right now.
Speaker 12 (15:30):
But with that being said, you have to really be
in love with the guy to take in that number three,
and so really all the options are still open for us.
Speaker 10 (15:37):
Do you think your perspective of playing for so long
and then coaching on the defensive side for so long
is really giving you a special insight and evaluating quarterback.
Speaker 12 (15:47):
Yeah, I think so. With that being said, I'm not
going to sit here and talk to you about mechanics
and things like that, but I can see competitiveness. I
can't see toughness. I can't see a playmaker out there.
But you know, with our staff with Elliott and you
know the quarterback guys that we have out in New
England now we have multiple including Macado, avp TC. All
those guys have been you know, watching quarterbacks for a
(16:09):
long time and I really think we have to work,
you know, work together to come to some type of
consensus to really feel good about number three.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
I'm glad you said that about I can't talk to your
mechanics and off platform or this or that, but the competitiveness,
how important is that too? You played with the greatest
who's ever done you know, he was the most competitive
guy to ever ever do it.
Speaker 10 (16:31):
How important of a trait is that tea. It's huge.
Speaker 9 (16:33):
You know.
Speaker 12 (16:34):
You see these quarterbacks that have the mechanics, they have
all the tools, but lack toughness. You know, you're gonna
get hit in the NFL as a quarterback and you
have to be able to stand in there and really
just get back up and do it all over again.
So toughness is definitely a huge part.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
What's it like following Bill Belichick, a guy you won
Super Bowls with and knowing his history, what's it like
stepping into that role?
Speaker 10 (16:57):
It's tough.
Speaker 12 (16:58):
I mean, look, those are huge choose to feel. At
the same time, I have to be myself. It's gotten
me this far and I'm not trying to be Bill Belichick.
I'm Gerroi Mayo.
Speaker 10 (17:08):
This is me.
Speaker 12 (17:09):
And when you talk about establishing cultures and leadership, I
have a certain way of doing that. But at the
same time, I did learn a lot from you know,
perhaps the greatest coach in all time.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
You know, later on that interview, Tom Mayo told me
that also one of his huge influence to influences coaching
is Mike Tomblin. They're both from the same town in
the Hampton, Virginia area. The Tomlin has really giving him
a lot of insight as well. But I want to
get back to what he was saying about quarterback because
unlike Washington, who knows what's going to happen.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
In front of him, Patriots don't.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
And if Washington chooses the quarterback that the Patriots may like,
because you heard him say they have to come to
a consensus, then maybe they bail because we know there's
about five teams that want to get up and get
one of these quarterbacks, so it'd be very interesting. I
still don't think they'll bail. I still got the feeling
after talking with him, they're going to keep the pick
(18:02):
and choose a quarterback right there. But then and their
roster's kind of barren. They're going to have to build
a roster around the quarterback that they take right there.
More so, what Washington is doing is building a roster
now to support a young quarterback.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
And the questions are who would be those teams trying
to trade up. You've got the Giants at number six.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Brandy Will told me earlier this week that when Daniel
Jones gets back, he's the guy, which is kind of
the thing you have to go with because making thirty
five point five million dollars guarantee doesn't preclude the Giants
draftter the quarterback. The Vikings now on the eleven and
the twenty t picks any value chart you go with,
that's enough to get you up to about number four,
so they could be.
Speaker 4 (18:39):
A potential team. And of course the Raiders.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
We know when Mark Davis and Antonio Pierce said that
with all the prospective gms, a big piece of but
it was how do.
Speaker 4 (18:46):
We go get the quarterback? What would it take for
us to go get the quarterback?
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Here there are a bunch of teams potentially in that
trade up mix, and usually there's somebody Steve who maybe
secretly else was amick.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
That a wrap for the lead block presented by Team
Mobile for Business, a sport as fast as football deserves
America's fastest five G network. Businesses go further with T
Mobile for Business coming up next on the NFL Report.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
You do not want to miss this.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
It is one unplugged and unfiltered Antonio Pierce, the head
coach of Las Vegas, and he brings the fire next.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
On the NFL Report. Let's do what we do, boy,
this is what we do. Be specially to night. All right,
crazy lads, get some jews down.
Speaker 4 (19:40):
Let's go up top.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Huh, I'm top.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
Oh two, let's go what like it?
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Like it? Pound them, pound.
Speaker 8 (19:48):
Them, pound them, pound them. Let's get the ball off
this when we sat.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Down, fifth sack of the game. You can't keep this
tea line down, John Cope.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
You're gonna get you to see the or man, the
awesome seeing what you're doing as a former player. You
just heard Raiders coach Antonio Peers from the sideline, and
we know in the locker room he loves to scream Raytors. Well,
you're gonna love hearing him screaming what he told me
in this interview.
Speaker 8 (20:19):
Something I grew up with right as a kid, hearing
that and saying it that. You know, you go to
the league, play some football and do some other things,
and then you know linebacker coaching, you kind of a
foot soldier and you just fall in line and you're
looking around like we're missing something. So after that first win,
was it get an interviewed by Tracy and I was
just like it just came out. It was just be honest,
(20:42):
it was just it wasn't planned. I didn't think nothing
of it. Then when I got in a locker room,
I can just look at all the guys there, eight
people who gonna do and boom, I just let it
out and it's one of those moments like you know
what you're saying that right, something's good happen, right, either
you win a game or you become a head coach
of Las Vegas Raiders. He started the press conference off
(21:03):
that way, but to me, it's just that that's Rader nation.
They understand it. You know, maybe everybody doesn't like coach
didn't do that? Why not?
Speaker 10 (21:12):
Why not?
Speaker 8 (21:13):
You know? And it's something now looking at it beside
Christian Wilkins and then he starts his press conference then,
so so you know, it's just something that's contagious. I
think our team, I know, our fan base. I didn't
think our organization has really you know, embraced that. And
that's a good thing.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Well what about that, because I mean clearly so coach
and do that you're your authentic you.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
And how do you think that translates to players?
Speaker 8 (21:38):
Well, they read through the BS I did an awesome
player especially now with these players because everything they do
is it's growing, right, so they get.
Speaker 10 (21:46):
A lot of information more than we got.
Speaker 8 (21:48):
But it's easier to be yourself and never have to
fake it because I'm out line, you know, I never
have to worry about what I said or what I'm
doing or saying that the right way because it just
comes out. And I try to myself as much as possible.
But when I played, I didn't filter myself. When I
lived my life as a normal person every day, when
I go back to being just Antonio Pierce walking down
the street, I could be myself, and damn it, why
(22:10):
not when I'm the RAIDERO coach, just be myself.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
I love that so so tell me that you talk
about these players today.
Speaker 10 (22:16):
Hey, it's the Instagram.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
It's just that, like when you played like you were
a g right, you are like that that tough dude.
How do you have to maybe adjust to relate to
the players too who have all this information are constantly
posting that should have to say, Okay, I know how
I used to roll. Maybe you're a little differently, but
we're gonna come to a happy medium to get the best.
Speaker 10 (22:36):
Sute of you.
Speaker 8 (22:37):
Yeah. I mean one thing about it that I'm a
familion and I think I'm a master puppeteer. I could
read the room, I could read people. I'm good with people.
My way isn't the right way for everybody, and it's
not for everybody, and it's not for every team. It's
not favorite owners, not for everye player. But that's a
good part about being a head coach. Now I get
to choose those guys. I get to find my my
(23:00):
identity and my personality and the players that we're bringing in.
And they might not be the same way I am,
but they might not be Oh my god, and all
this energy and all this oh my god, that's passionate
about the game football. But one thing about it, they
better love the damn game. They better love coming to work.
They will come in with a smile on their face.
That doesn't change. If it does, it needs to go
somewhere else. So how do I relate? It's simple. You
(23:21):
just fight out their core. You find out what makes
them click and tick. You made relationships. Half the time,
we don't eve talk about football. We're in the building
this offseason, we're not talking about football. Phase one. They
ain't about football. It's about people. Once you get the
people and you get the relationships. When it gets hard
in the month of August, then you get to the
ny degree.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
So to that point, Max Crosby, you're all pro D
and your edge Russia. He pounded the table for you
to get this job right. You're talking about relationships. He's
the dude who's got the most cache in that locker room.
When you have a guy like him, who's so respected
by his peer few league stand up for you and
(24:03):
take some of the personal accountability he has for himself.
How much do you think that gets the ball rolling
towards where you guys want to go.
Speaker 8 (24:11):
It's huge. I'm gonna go back to the first day
I walked in the building February fifteenth, twenty twenty two,
six am. The first guy that needs me at the
door match Crossby. That's my introduction to Max, and I
never felt so much energy from another player before. I'm like, God, damn,
what is this.
Speaker 10 (24:29):
It's different.
Speaker 8 (24:30):
So I'm kind of taking back by it. And then
I watched him that whole off season six am, six am,
six am, So I go downstairs and we started having conversations,
non football related, talking about his past. I got to
where he's at today, where he wants to be, and
then all of a sudden he starts quizzing me what
was it like playing with Bruce Smith? What was the
(24:51):
like playing with Michael strahand those defenses you had in
New York. He wants to be educated. And then we
get into the season and we're doing, you know, just
stuff out on the field. Let's just say, off season
running half gassers. I'm watching this dude run with DB's
and receivers. Let me go out there and run with him.
Our relationship is to me, I think deeper in football,
(25:13):
it's personal. I think Max he's a little bit of
himself and me, and I see myself and him. But
to have Max speak up and say what he said,
that's different. I had to tell him pump the breaks
a little bit.
Speaker 9 (25:26):
You know.
Speaker 8 (25:26):
I want to pick some Martin Davis off. But when
you do have a voice as a player, it's okay
to use it. He's a raider, and sometimes raiders do
things that's not normal and maybe not accepted by everybody
else and.
Speaker 10 (25:39):
Not the norm.
Speaker 8 (25:40):
But when you have your best player showing up each
and every day and saying that's the man that I
want to play for, we have no other way but
to follow suit. But it's not because of that, it's
also because we're playing the Chiefs. Max hasn't practiced all week.
He's in a hospital bed need looking like a watermelon.
(26:01):
And we go off for pregame and everybody's telling me,
do not play them, and I'm looking at him hyed eye.
I said, you sure, and he told me I can
do this. And it's different when a former player like
myself looks at another player and you can look in
his eye and say he's gonna be okay. But then
(26:21):
also to say, listen, if you get up slow, are
you doing anything that's like I got to pull you
out right, and we have that gentleman handshake. Then you
can make the decision that we made with Max on Christmas,
on that Thanksgiving or ekping that Kansas Chiefs game. But
at the end of the day, man Max is to
face the franchise. He puts his heart and soul into
that bad boy. The effort, the passion, the love for
(26:43):
the Raid organization, the Raider fan base is unmatched, and
he sets the tone. I know it's a head coach,
but Max, so he told me to reach an interview
I did with him, and he has been preaching accountability
to the guys in the defensive front.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
He's got ten guys already training with him every morning.
When you see that, it's just first off, is this different?
Speaker 10 (27:09):
Like? Is this a change not in him but in
your building? Without a doubt.
Speaker 8 (27:14):
I mean, ever since the team that was in our
building for the Super Bowl left team in Red, it's
been a match across for show. And he brought his
friends because, like I told you, when I first showed
up on February fifteenth, two, it was only backs. If
you walk in that building Monday, you want to see
twenty five to thirty guys in there. Duvonta Adams, the
entire D line, DB's Hey, guys, you ain't got to be.
Speaker 10 (27:37):
Here till April fifteenth.
Speaker 8 (27:38):
It's okay, slow down, but that's not how we're rolling
no more So how does that make you feel? I
know we're coming, I know we're ready. I know we're
building something special. I don't know what it is. I
don't know when it's going to happen. I don't know
if it's this year, next year. But I know the cultures, right,
I know the mindsets right. I know it's strictly business
in that building. And then when we're off the building,
we have fun doing and doing it together.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Okay, so now part of what you guys have to
figure out and if tickets and stept to your quarterback, right,
you got Gardner Minshew in there, You've got Aiden in there.
But how do you plan to continue to address that?
But you guys are picking at thirteen. It's a good
enough Maybe it's a good number if you stay there.
But you know, how do you guys get to continue
(28:21):
to address that? Well, you know you can't have two
quarterbacks on the roster, right, So we know we got
to ask. So okay, the next wave is is the draft.
Speaker 10 (28:31):
So let's see.
Speaker 8 (28:32):
I got toom celesko in there, got that got the
figure out what he got up to sleep. You know
he's done it for a long time. I got a
lot of trust in him. I think he's seen it
wherever he's been, right right, Peate Manning, Andrew Luck becomes
a GM with the Chargers, Philip Rivers justin Herbert. So
(28:52):
you know something about quarterbacks? He does, So I don't
let him figure it out. I'll let them figure it out.
But I know this, like, we got to get another
quarterback in the room.
Speaker 10 (28:59):
We know that.
Speaker 8 (29:00):
But then Dave listen, ain't no Common played his ass off.
He did a hell of a job for us. First
game he ever played, Chargers went six sun stacks during
the ball over critical interception the red zone. We played
the Minnesota Vikings later this season, who said, comes back
out lights it up. So you're talking about a kid
(29:21):
that has the mental toughness to play the National Football League,
whatever happens, and whatever we do, and he got to
go through eight and o'conno being honest.
Speaker 10 (29:28):
With you because he's earned that right. Okay, But like
anybody else, it's.
Speaker 8 (29:32):
All about competition, and if we can make that room
the most competitive room on our team, the quarterback room
will be a good football.
Speaker 10 (29:38):
To hell man.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
All right. First off, some of the fantastic stuff he said,
the Max he is, I mean, you know, as I
was doing the interview, I'm.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
Kind of like, Okay, I'm getting worked up here right
like he's I get it, like I feel it. And
then when I rewatch the interview, I'm like, Okay, I
feel it. I mean, he knows his locker room and
the fact that he's talking about Max Crosby and the
way Max has got these guys going, and he's got
that energy, which is his energy, and now he's in
(30:10):
a position to pick the guys who could continue to
convey that energy. It's just absolutely fantastic. Now we'll see
if it works. You know, he talked about, hey, he
is not everybody's cup of tea. You know he was
you know, we didn't know he was going to be
available for the Raiders head coach or other head coaching jobs.
But one of the words out there was like, he's
(30:31):
such a Raider, we don't know if he'd be just
as invested in our club because he's been so outspoken
about wearing the silver and black.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
My favorite thing of that whole interview, Steve, was when
you got him rolling on the defensive line. You bring
in Christian Wilkins, you got Max Crosby, Malcolm Coots, and
the young Buck, the first round pick from the Erego.
On the other side, Tyree Wilson Man calls him the
four horsemen, that the four horsemen ready to ride, and
some guys.
Speaker 4 (30:53):
Are just speaking sound bites. Ap is one of those guys.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
The big question is going to be and you talked
to him about it, right, there's gonna be the courquarterback.
Now he says anything we do goes through Aid and O'Connell.
In other words, and I get this APB and a
former player.
Speaker 4 (31:06):
Hey, that guy was the starter. He won some games
for you last year.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
So he starts out atop the depth chart, something that
Kenny Pickett probably was hoping he was going to hear
in Pittsburg until he did it. But you know you're
going to add to that rook you brought into Gardner Minshew.
He gave him a pretty good contract fifteen million dollars
fully guaranteed. That's significant. It's very obvious the Raiders have
designs on going and drafted a quarterback here. Tom Telesco
in his history with the Chargers rarely traded up in
(31:30):
round one, but Mark Davis, Antonio Pierce every single time
that they sat down with GM candidates. How do we
go and get the quarterback? That's what they're going to
be attempting to do. Figure out, all right, who can
we move up for here? Jayden Daniels makes a lot
of sense. Got the history of Antonio Pierce going back
to Arizona State. I also can see Michael Pennix in
(31:52):
a logical pick for the Raiders kind of fits the
mold that we've seen in the past that Tom Telesco
likes in quarter I think the entire thing is fascinating.
I do know this, They got further to go than
some of the other teams. We're going to be trying
to trade up, which means the price is that much steeple.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
Yeah, they don't have quite the freight to move up,
but they're not gonna be afraid to go ahead and
do it because they know they think this roster is
pretty darn good and that if they get their quarterback
to build around, that's gonna be the guy where and
O'Connell throw that pass right there, but it goes through him,
But it might go through him.
Speaker 1 (32:27):
I mean again, speak with Antonio.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
I got every feeling that they're gonna go out and
draft one of these quarterbacks unless there's just something a
medical or something to knock somebody off their board, like
a Michael Pennix.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
But they drafted Terry Wilson last year with a bad foot. Correct,
it's the Raiders.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
There's thirty two different teams with thirty two doctors, thirty
two degrees of risk tolerance.
Speaker 4 (32:45):
Raiders historically have had a little bit more risk tolerance.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
So again, Michael Pennix, who would be talking about is
a sure fire.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
First round pick, but for the medical I wouldn't rule
out that possibility.
Speaker 2 (32:54):
When we were out at all on Tom, you got
something coming up from a coach who just got a
new running back to help his team.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
That's right, Saquon Barkley is now a Philadelphia Eagle. Nick
Sirianni speaking for the first time, and what it means
not just to get Saquon, but to get him from
your division rival. We'll also talk about what went wrong
down the stretch for the Eagles last season and how
Sirianni intends to fix it in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 4 (33:19):
That's up next to the NFL Report.
Speaker 1 (33:32):
Hey love you, Hey.
Speaker 4 (33:35):
Washington seventeen, Eagles seven.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
This is where y'all change it.
Speaker 8 (33:39):
Let's go.
Speaker 4 (33:39):
He mclaurton couldn't get the feet in. It's a good judge.
You probably all though you're doing it right.
Speaker 10 (33:46):
Job, Go and back in the field goal range.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
All right, field goal.
Speaker 4 (33:51):
I don't watch field goals.
Speaker 9 (33:52):
Did I look at coach Clay he points at me
or he gives me one of these like if we
missed it is.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
We won pretty much every way.
Speaker 8 (34:02):
You can win in this league.
Speaker 3 (34:04):
Everybody remembers how the Eagles twenty twenty three season finished.
Speaker 4 (34:08):
There was a time Steve there in the.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Competition in the running for the number one, yes overall
seed in the NFC, things got a little bit haywire.
It made a lot of changes. Since I got a
chance to sit down in recent days here in Orlando,
Tom Pilizero Steve White for the NFL Report from the
NFL Annual Meeting and talked about one of those new
big additions, Saquon Barkley, as well as a question that
started out as what is the state of the twenty
(34:32):
twenty fourth Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 4 (34:33):
Siriani gave what I thought was a fascinating response, just.
Speaker 9 (34:39):
Looking to take it one day at a time, and
you know, I think that, you know, coming off of
the two thousand and twenty two season, you think to yourself, man,
we got to do what we got to do to
get back to where we were so close. And I
think that, you know, it really just proved to you
that you really just got to take things one day
(35:00):
at a time. And so right now, you know, we've
had a you know, I think by a lot of accounts,
we've had a great off season so far, and you know,
got to keep doing that through the through the draft,
and and we'll take that one day at a time
that will lead into the training camp and and O
T A. S. And you know, just looking forward to
to building the team and you know, coming close as
(35:21):
a team.
Speaker 10 (35:21):
So we talked about doing it one day at a time.
We're some guys getting ahead.
Speaker 9 (35:25):
Of themselves in terms of I would say that was
I wouldn't say some guys say me, I'd look at
myself in the mirror.
Speaker 4 (35:30):
First.
Speaker 10 (35:30):
I think we all we all did you know, we
had a lot of you know, we had When you.
Speaker 9 (35:35):
Get close like that and you want to and you
want to be back so bad, I think it's it's
it's easy to find yourself looking up to the top
of the mountain and saying I got to get back there.
And it really does take one day at a time.
And what a great lesson for us last year. And
so the state of the Philadelphia Eagles is where where
where we are want to be right now. And so
(35:55):
that gives me an opportunity not to not to side
step your question, but it is where we want to
be as far as just hey, we're here, we're in
this off season part portion of it. Players get to
come in here in a couple of weeks, we get
to get going on some O TA stuff and get
them lifting and getting to be together and getting in
the classroom.
Speaker 10 (36:13):
So we're looking forward to that as we as we approach.
Speaker 3 (36:15):
So since last time we saw you, he signed Squon Barkley.
Take me through that process and why now is the
time to convince how we just spend.
Speaker 10 (36:24):
On a running back?
Speaker 8 (36:25):
Uh?
Speaker 9 (36:25):
Well, just so so grateful to how he he's just
always looking to improve our football team. I really, you know,
just he works tiresly to improve our team and really
grateful to be around that. Really excited obviously about about
Saquon and the things that he can do.
Speaker 10 (36:47):
You know, just such a dynamic football player both with
you know.
Speaker 9 (36:50):
Both as a as an actual running back and then
also the things he can do as a as a
pass catcher, and so just you know, he's just going
to bring an element to our offense and to our team.
You know, as much as we see him, you know,
all the highlights that we see on the on the tape. Uh,
you know, from my understanding and all our homework, he's
(37:12):
such a good leader and a teammate as well. So
to be able to add that into our locker room
not only the playmaking ability, but to the person is
really is really important. And so you know, and and
to be able to like how many times have I
watched him on the opposite sideline playing him Two times
this last year, three times the year before, two times
(37:33):
the year before. It is like, man, we don't have
to play against that guy anymore. Great, Oh, he's on
our team even more, even more perfect. And so that's
that's exciting that, you know, because we've seen him up
close and personal and we just know how good of
a football player he is, you know, and he's he's
big man, he's hard to tackle, and you know when
(37:55):
it gets cold there in the Northeast that the you know,
in the December and January, looking forward to having him
on our sideline where he wears down that defense and
it's hard to tackle him. It's hard to tackle him
in September two, let's be honest, but really looking forward
to all that.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Saquon Barkley has caused a lot of problems for Nick
Sirianni and a lot of other.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
People through the years. Here now he is on the
Eagles side.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
He grew up like an hour outside of Philadelphia, so
it's a homecoming for Saquon as well. An aggressive move
Steve from an Eagles team that historically hasn't paid big
for running backs, but they're making a big bet that
Saquon's a difference maker.
Speaker 10 (38:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:33):
Look, they give up on DeAndre Swift because they knew
they could get somebody who's more physical. Right at Saquon Barkley.
It's a durability issue for Saquon Barkley. That's the only
thing if he stays on the field behind this offensive line. Yes,
I lost Jason Kelsey by those slide Cam Jurgens over,
They've got some.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
Players in place. He is going to add a lot.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
And I like what you said about the cold weather,
and it made it seem like, hmm, they played in
cold weather a lot last year during that skid.
Speaker 1 (38:59):
Maybe there were some shoes.
Speaker 2 (39:00):
Now we've got a guy who's played in cold weather
his whole life who could possibly help us. By Tom,
I want to backtrack to the front end of that
interview where he was talking about we're doing things day
by day and it wasn't a cliche day by day
where he talked about that maybe we got out a
little ahead of ourselves. To me, I took that as
maybe we thought we were better than we actually were
(39:23):
and didn't put in as the new coach speaker.
Speaker 1 (39:26):
Is the strain or the grind that we needed to
to be a good football team.
Speaker 3 (39:31):
Some of the little things sometimes can slip through the
cranks here, and you saw that down the stretch. They
had that game against San Francisco. Yeah, a lot of
stuff happened in that game. It was an ugly showing
and they never fully recovered. I also had Siriani about
Jalen Hurts and where he stands, kind of deferred to
the fact that listening above all else, you know this
about Jalen Hurts. He's going to work at it. He's
(39:51):
an unbelievably hard worker. That's what he's going to.
Speaker 4 (39:54):
Fall back upon throughout the course of this process. Listen.
They got to get it going on both sides of
the ball.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
They got new coordinators killing more there now, right Vic
Fangio Over on the defensive side of the ball, you
bring back a juice guy like Chauncey Gardner, John Hoboy
in your secondary is gonna be part of your identity
and the everything that Syrianna brought up leadership with Saquon,
you lose Jason Kelcey, you lose Fletcher Cox.
Speaker 4 (40:14):
There is a leadership voice.
Speaker 3 (40:15):
They got Brandon Graham and Lane Johnson some of the
other guys, but you need some people, some of those
young players to step in as the leaders.
Speaker 2 (40:23):
Yeah, and a lot of times you try to import leadership.
It doesn't always work. But Saquon's got the gravitas from
a team that's faced him twice a year to come
in and make it work.
Speaker 1 (40:33):
Well, Tom, guess what we have coming up next. We've
got an owner.
Speaker 2 (40:37):
We've got Vikings co owner Mark Wilf and we've got
some questions for him.
Speaker 4 (40:42):
Who's your quarterback? Mark?
Speaker 2 (40:43):
Who is your quarterback? And what about that superstar widers here?
But no, not Jordan Addison but the other one. Oh,
we got questions from Mark, and we'll get some answered
next on the NFL. Mark, all right, we are back
(41:09):
at the NFL Report and Tom Pellicero, we are now
joined by a special guests, Viking's co owner Mark with Mark.
Speaker 1 (41:17):
Thank you so much for joining us here.
Speaker 4 (41:18):
Thanks for having us taking time out of.
Speaker 1 (41:20):
A busy day.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
Tom and I were wondering if you're like escaping from
all of these monotonous meetings just to come spend time
with us.
Speaker 4 (41:25):
Get a outdoor here. Yeah, absolutely so.
Speaker 1 (41:28):
Mark, you know, just to start things off.
Speaker 2 (41:30):
Of course, the vikings a big conversation leading into the draft,
your quarterback spot. Are you pushing the guys to go
ahead and get somebody in it? We know you signed
Sam Donald.
Speaker 13 (41:42):
But well we love Sam Donald, but you know, when
it comes to the quarterbacks position, it's certainly critical. And
Quacy and coach O'Connell are working hard. We've got a
plan and Sam Donald's part of it, and we're excited.
He's in the building and we're excited. We have two
first picks, so we'll see where it all goes. We
have a lot of flexibility and we'll.
Speaker 4 (42:04):
See what happens.
Speaker 3 (42:05):
Some of the teams that are in the quarterback market,
they've had their owners and their team presidents among others
in the interview process. As you said, it's a very unique,
very important position. How involved do you and Ziggy get
through this process?
Speaker 13 (42:17):
Well, it was shirinly engaged all the time with Quasi
and coach and Robert Zinski the whole the whole football operations,
and we have a lot of confidence that they know
what they're doing, they've got the right ideas, and we're
behind them and the extent they're gonna want further involvement
from us, we're there to help.
Speaker 4 (42:32):
But again, we know what we know and we know
what they know and they'll get it right.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
Oh, I sounded like, guys, a good detailed plan going
on right there. We also know one of the bigger
things going around with the Vikings is Justin Jefferson. At
some point there's gonna be extension.
Speaker 1 (42:48):
Talks or something like that. Have those started well.
Speaker 13 (42:51):
We had great positive conversations last season, and then we're
looking forward to more positive conversations this offseason. Justin Jefferson
is a unique talent, best in the game, and we're
excited he's in Minnesota Viking and not only is he
a great player, he's become a great leader of our
locker room and he's great in the community. So the
thrills he gives the fans on the field and just
the way he carries himself. We're looking forward to some
(43:13):
real positive conversations.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
So even if Quasi comes to you and goes markets,
we made it a real strong rung because you guys
did last year to try to get the extension.
Speaker 4 (43:21):
It's just not gonna happen. But I can get three
first round picks for Justin Jefferson. How are you feeling again?
Speaker 8 (43:26):
Right now?
Speaker 13 (43:27):
We're focused on getting that guy on our field with
the purple and he looks great.
Speaker 4 (43:31):
In purple, and we're gonna do our best to keep
it that way.
Speaker 1 (43:33):
You talked about making a move to get a second
first round draft pick.
Speaker 2 (43:37):
I mean that that takes you know, a lot of
you know, I guess to say it, But what about
the job quation if Kevin have done not only winning
ball games in a few years they've been together, but
the plan that they have constructed for you guys to
have short and long.
Speaker 13 (43:53):
Term success, well that's that's that's our where we're looking at.
We're trying to get sustained success. We want to win
super Bowls. We want to get over that line. And
we have a lot of confidence in Quacy and coach O'Connell.
Speaker 4 (44:04):
They're working great together.
Speaker 13 (44:06):
Our coaching staff, our personal staff working really hard and
having the two first round picks gives us a lot
of flexibility and that's great.
Speaker 4 (44:13):
Whether it's uptown or in the middle.
Speaker 1 (44:16):
We know with this deep draft here, we're going to
be okay.
Speaker 4 (44:19):
Mark, As you know, I live up in Minneapolis.
Speaker 3 (44:21):
I've covered ount know how many of your games throughout
your entire ownership tenure. Almost everybody that I remember is gone.
The locker room has completely changed over. There's one guy left.
His name is Harrison Smith. Another restructured deal to continue
to have Harrison Smith, who, in my opinion, is a
Hall of Fame caliber safety or the longest running Vikings
(44:41):
in the modern era.
Speaker 4 (44:42):
What does it mean to you? And the organization couldn't
agree more.
Speaker 13 (44:45):
I mean entering his thirteenth season now, I mean just
an incredible player, a great leader, and we couldn't be
happier for him and his family that he's back with
us this coming year. And we agree with you, and
we're just excited to have him back. And he's just
such a such a great presence on the field and
great in the locker room. So the way he carries himself,
(45:06):
we're really really proud. One of the greatest picks in
Vikings history, and he's proven it.
Speaker 1 (45:11):
On the field.
Speaker 3 (45:11):
I was thinking that, you know, when you guys were
going through the contract situation with Harrison. If it didn't
work out in Minnesota, maybe join your former head.
Speaker 4 (45:18):
Coach in Dallas. What do you think about Zim being
back in the league here.
Speaker 13 (45:23):
We're happy for coach Zim and I know he'll do
a great job in Dallas. He's just one of the
great defensive minds and he's in the right position there
and again, great memories with coach Zimmer and we wish
him all the best.
Speaker 2 (45:38):
So you guys have been doing more of the talking
vikings here, you owners, and this morning after the Competition Committee,
you guys did vote to ban the swivel hip drop tackle.
Could you kind of walk us through the decision because
we heard it was unanimous vote to get that play
out of the game.
Speaker 13 (45:56):
I think, you know, the focus on health and safety
is very real and it really comes around every year
at these meetings, and we applaud the league, the commissioner
and the focus that's put on health and safety. And
that's really what this whole rule is about. We're just
trying to make the game out there safer for the players,
and I think that's been proven out. The statistics are
(46:17):
injuries are down from the years prior and This is
just a continuing of that effort, and that's why it
passed unanimously.
Speaker 3 (46:23):
The kickoff plays another one that we're talking about. Because
of the high injury rates, it's changed for the last
five years. Special teams coordinators have to keep adjusting. What
we're talking about now, though, is something pretty radical and
what they're calling the NFL hybrid kickoff, with the kickoff
and the return teams both on the opposite side.
Speaker 4 (46:40):
Of the field.
Speaker 3 (46:41):
You can't move until the ball hits the ground or
is caught. There's a landing zone there. It's literally a
ten page type of report in the room when it's
being presented. I know Darren Rizzy, John Fossil and others
were here.
Speaker 4 (46:53):
How is it received? How much do you get it?
Is this actually what's going to have? Well, it's still ongoing.
Speaker 13 (47:00):
You know what's great about the NFL and football, of
all the major sports football, we're not afraid to make
the game better, make the game better for players and
more importantly for the fans.
Speaker 4 (47:11):
It's just a great game.
Speaker 13 (47:12):
And I know there's a lot of conversation and it's
about health and safety. We want to get the kickoff back.
It's such a great play and it's kind of gone
away the amount of touchbacks, to not have a single
touch back in the Super Bowl, things like that, and
we're supportive of putting in a kickoff rule. There's little
conversations ongoing on that. We'll see where it all falls out.
So I applaud the league for making the effort and
(47:34):
we look forward to having it back. But again with
health and safety still in mind, do.
Speaker 1 (47:38):
You think you have a ruling on it.
Speaker 2 (47:39):
Ris McKay did say he's hoping by the time this
meeting ends, you'll all be able to have some conclusion
because you have.
Speaker 1 (47:45):
To build your rosters and this new rule could change
some of the type of personality.
Speaker 4 (47:49):
You Well, that is the goal.
Speaker 13 (47:51):
We'll defer to Chairman McKay on the politics of all this,
but again we're very supportive of trying to get a
kickoff play back for the fans and for the players,
and to make it as safe.
Speaker 4 (48:00):
And healthy as possible.
Speaker 3 (48:02):
And there's a lot of things for you guys, for
Vikings fans to be excited about looking forward to twenty
twenty four. You're going back to London, you get a
fully healthy Justin Jefferson back on the field.
Speaker 4 (48:11):
But national media wise, there's not a lot of Vikings discussions.
Speaker 3 (48:14):
The Bears have the number one pick, it's the Packers
on the rise game with Jordan Love.
Speaker 4 (48:17):
The Lions were just on the presspae of the Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (48:20):
How bad do you want to get to September and
go out there and reboot after everything you guys went
through last year?
Speaker 13 (48:25):
Absolutely, and no one's ever won a Super Bowl at
an owner's meeting in March. So that's what it's all about.
And we're excited, and you know, we talk a lot
about quarterback. I'm super excited about the defensive pickups we
made in the free agency so far, and coach Flores,
a coordinator of our defense, I know we're going to
be a lot better there as well.
Speaker 4 (48:42):
So there's a lot to look.
Speaker 13 (48:43):
Forward to and looking forward to get some wins.
Speaker 2 (48:46):
Well, Mark, as a Minneapolis native who grew up with
the Purple People leaders and Chuck Forman and France Tarkitin,
it is always good to talk about the Minnesota Vikings,
and thank you so much for joining us.
Speaker 1 (48:57):
Great to be with you.
Speaker 4 (48:58):
Thank you Skull.
Speaker 1 (48:59):
There you go, Mark, Well listen.
Speaker 2 (49:01):
Concluding a fantastic and loaded NFL report, make sure to
watch Tom Ian and Mike on The Insiders Tuesday from
the League meetings at one pm, and James Palmer and I.
We will not be here Thursday, but we will be
back next Monday for the NFL Report.
Speaker 1 (49:18):
Don't forget this is a podcast, Come on seven pm,
streaming live on all of your free streaming apps.
Speaker 2 (49:26):
Tom tell Us, Joe, thanks so much for joining us
again as Mark Wilf and we are out
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