NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero and Judy Battista deliver the most pressing football headlines of the day. First, Cam Wolfe joins with a preview of the Jacksonville Jaguars' rookie minicamp, and Jane Slater provides analysis on the New Orleans Saints offseason. Then, Marc Ross shares his potential year two breakouts before incoming Bengals rookie DE Shemar Stewart joins the Insiders. Later, Michael F. Florio shares his "Fantastic First-Year Fantasy Sleepers and Cam Wolfe previews the Miami Dolphins' offseason program.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
We know the plan for Travis Hunter this season in Jackson,
but how exactly will the Jaguars kick off his crash course.
This week, Cameron Wolfe will tell you where the two
way star will be with more rocky mini camps kick
off around the league. Samar Stewart is also now a
big cat. What's the first step in reaching his potential
with the Bengals? And what do you think about getting
(00:29):
two shots the sack Lamari season? We'll ask him when
the number seventeen overall pick joins the show tonight. It
is May sixth, and still no clarity on the two
biggest veteran QB names with uncertain futures, Laron Rodgers or
Kirk Cousins have a new home. First, we will tell
you the latest now that I've got my microphone on.
(00:50):
How about the dominoes that could define the Steelers season?
Welcome inside with the Insiders alongside Judy Batista. I am
Tom pelisera one hundred and twenty one days out now
from the NFL kickoff game, just eight short days away
from the schedule release, which means some of those early
announcements about the big national TV games those could end
(01:11):
up being just days away, and we're just three days
away from another wave of rookie mini camps, the biggest
wave of all, which means the first look at guys
like Travis Hunter wearing their new uniform down in Jacksonville
where apparently they plan to clone Travis Hunter. That's probably
not legal, definitely would be a big story. The bottom
(01:34):
line is they do envision him being able to do
a lot of different things for them, which is why
they're willing to trade up to number two and go
get him as we bring in our Cameron Wolf, I
think to the conversation right now, I'm just going to
talk to Judy about it. Jody, what do you think
about Travis Hunter and exactly what the plan is going
to be here as we move forward.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Well, look, this is our first opportunity to see what
the plan is. They have said they see him as
as a wide receiver first and then they will work.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
In a package on defense.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
But again, this is the first time we're going to
see him on the field and see how they're going
to divvy up the snaps. He has made it very
clear he wants to play both positions. He would like
to play them full time if he can I'm not
sure that any team in the NFL thinks a player
can play full time, both time, both sides of the ball.
But the Jaguars are going to give us our first
(02:25):
peek here in rookie mini camp. I suspect that what
we see here is not going to be the final
plan for him.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
They will work.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Through it as they go towards through OTAs and then
obviously in training camp will get a much better look
at how we think they're going to deploy him.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
But look, this is going.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
To be one of the most interesting players, if not
the most interesting player of the twenty twenty five season
to watch. We have It's been a long long time
since we saw a true two way player. Really excited
to watch Travis Hunter.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
And as we see these rookie camps bring the player
into town for the first time on a full time basis,
we also very quickly start to have more rookie contracts
getting done. They are slotted contracts. There are different things
to negotiate in terms of language, but Tyler Booker already
done in Dallas now, the Chiefs announcing today that they
have agreed to terms with the number thirty two overall pick,
(03:18):
Josh Simmons the offensive tackle for your rookie contract that
includes fourteen point seven million dollars guarantee. In other news
are on the NFL still no news, which the Steelers
hope is good news.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
With Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Still at this point pondering his future as he has
detailed publicly, Pittsburgh has shown patients, particularly coach Mike Tomlin,
in terms of figuring out exactly when or if Aaron
Rodgers is going to join that team. Judy, we know
that they have drafted a quarterback in Will Howard. We
know that they brought back Mason Rudolph. They have contingency plans,
(03:54):
but this is probably the biggest loose end that still
needs to be tied up. You would hope sometime between
now and training camps beginning in late July.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Well, there are certainly people in the Steelers building who
had hoped this would be wrapped up by now. Having
said that, look, we just saw Aaron Rodgers at the
Kentucky Derby. He looked completely fine, which is great news.
I thought the fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers did not
go for a quarterback earlier in the draft. They did
draft a quarterback, but it was late so that's clearly
(04:25):
not a quarterback they think could step in in Week
one if he had to. The fact that they didn't
go for a quarterback earlier suggested to Need that they
are still confident that Aaron Rodgers is on his way.
When we talked to members of the Steelers organization at
the annual meeting back in late March, that's a while
ago now, they were pretty confident at that point that
(04:46):
Aaron Rodgers was going to.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Be a Pittsburgh Steeler.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
At that point, Artney too, who is the owner of
the franchise, was already saying, well, maybe this has taken
a little bit longer than we thought it was going
to initially. Obviously a lot of time has a la
since then, so this has certainly taken much much longer.
But as we have been saying now for weeks months,
there's nothing on the NFL calendar that forces a decision
(05:11):
right now.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
So if the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Don't force the decision, if the Steelers are okay with
this running through the spring and maybe into the summer,
then there's nothing to force Aaron Rodgers to make up
his mind. You wonder when the Steelers would like to
have him in do they care about him missing the
off season program. Would they care about him missing that
are in mini camp, that's near the end of June.
(05:35):
You know, you wonder at what point they would really
like to have their quarterback situations. They just said they've
got contingency plans. I'm not sure going with Mason Rudolph
as the starting quarterback is a great contingency plan. And
of course if Aaron Rodgers is completely out of the picture,
then you have to ask to they then make a
play to try to trade for Kirk Cousins, but that
(05:56):
is several steps down the line. I think they are
still feeling pretty good that it's going to be Aaron
Rodgers someday.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
On part of the reason there may not be the
urgency to pivot to the next move Judy is the
Steelers at this point are really the only team for
Kirk Cousins. If the Falcons are going to actually trade him,
which teams have not gotten the impression that they really
have any urgency to do that, then at this point
the only team that has a truly unsettled starting quarterback
situation would be in Pittsburgh. The Falcons already cruise pass
(06:26):
the first soft deadline picked up a ten million dollars
guaranteed portion of cousins base salary in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
That's subject to offsets.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
They cruised through another soft deadline, which was the draft,
and you saw teams like Minnesota that had been banding
about as a I would fairly say a long shot
possibility for Kirk Cousins to come in as a backup.
It was unlikely to happen. But they go and they
trade for somebody else in Sam Howell. The Falcons have
continually said Judy that they would anticipate keeping Kirk Cousins
(06:56):
on the roster and that that's the way that they
intend to proceed. That's sometimes his team speak for hey,
come make us an offer. It just doesn't seem like
there has been a whole lot of movement here until
the Falcons are willing to make a move and Kirk
is willing to waive his no trade clause, which at
some point you would think he might not want to do,
and just parachute into a team in training camp. Here,
(07:16):
you may actually end up with something that would have
seemed unfathomable when he got bench last December, which is
Kirk Cousins being a twenty seven point five million dollars
backup in Atlanta in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, and I guess I just don't know who that
is good for. It doesn't seem to be that it
would be good for Kirk Cousins. He would be a backup,
you know. But as you pointed out, there's not that
many starting opportunities out there right now. There's just no
team other than the Stealers that have a truly unsettled
quarterback situation. So when he looks at the landscape right now,
(07:50):
there doesn't appear to be an obvious landing spot. But
of course if he waits and quarterbacks inevitably get injured,
does an opportunity open up there. It's certainly doesn't seem
to be a good situation for Michael Pennix.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
I don't care what the.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
Falcons say about this.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
There is no way that Michael Penix, going into his
second year, is in a better spot with Kirk Cousins
looking over his shoulder than he would be with Kirk
Cousins somewhere else.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
So I have a little bit of time for this
to play out.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
But you're right, I mean, the market just has not
existed and the market has managed to shrink even further
to the places that would be attractive for kirk Cousins.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
And who would that be good for, you asked, Judy.
Maybe the people who bought kirk Cousins number eighteen Falcons
jerseys and they're snow crossing their fingers that maybe there's
some situation where it gets some other opportunity. If you
pre ordered a Shduur Sanders number two Browns jersey, you're
going to be disappointed because Cleveland did unveil their numbers
in the past couple of days. Here Shuart Sanders getting
(08:45):
number twelve, not the number two that he wore in
college that was given to DeAndre Carter.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
This is an interesting graphic right there.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Because if you just said that out of context, I
kind of said, is that the amount of money they're
making that's kind of all over the blok? Is that
the number of games they've missed in the past couple
of years. Here it is the most unique quarterback depth
chart we've got in the league. Right, Joe Flack Award
in fifteen. They could be oh, he's going into the
year fifteen. It's could be in a lot of different things.
(09:13):
But Judy, when you look ahead to this offseason, it
is for better worse can be one of the driving
storylines in the NFL, which is ken Shador Sanders, a
fifth round pick, do something that very few fifth round
picks managed to do at the quarterback position, which is
get onto the field in the first year.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
I mean it's possible that they did draft two rookies
and he was not the first rookie they drafted. You
have to think going into this that Joe Flacco is
in the driver's seat.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Kenny Pickett is the one who has to be.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Looking over his shoulder and saying, like, wait a minute,
how many quarterbacks are they going to keep. They have
to keep Toshan Watson because of the money situation. If
Joe Flacco wins the starting job, you assume they're going
to keep the two guys that they drafted. That would
mean Kenny Pickett is sort of the odd man out.
This is going to be easily the most interesting quarterback
competition we have seen a long time. You talked about
(10:01):
the depth chart, It's like the deepest depth chart effort.
There's like a million quarterbacks out there. My first question
would be, how are you going to divide the reps? Up,
but that's for a later date.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Our depth chart in terms of South Florida Reporter is
very short. It's actually only one person. It's Cameron Wolf
who finally is here now to talk about that man,
Travis Hunter, who is wearing number twelve now for the
Jacksonville Jaguars the Big Move Cam. You were in Maria
when the Browns made that trade, picking up a future
first round pick and more to give the Jaguars the
opportunity to get the guy that, as James Gladstone said,
(10:34):
they've been hunting. You look ahead to Rookie Minnie Camp
this weekend. How do they get Travis Hunter, the two
way player rolling on both sides of the ball.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
Well, Tom I spoke to a Jaguars coast to day
and he said that when we interviewed Travis Hunter, we
knew right away he was a culture builder on and
off the field, and so that is the element, the
energy they're going to want to see the first weekend
for him a Rookie Minnie Camp. They won't do a
lot of install but you'll see a lot of Travis
Hunter on the field. And one thing that was reiterated
to me this week is that Travis Hunter will start
(11:05):
off as a wide receiver first. He's going to get
most of his time at wide receiver and then learn
defensive back as the summer goes along. It was expressed
to me as he'll major in offense and minor in defense,
but eventually they want him to be a double major
in both offense and defense like he did at Colorado.
And that is a great reference because from what I'm told,
(11:25):
Travis Hunter will walk his graduation stage on Thursday at Colorado.
Speaker 6 (11:30):
Friday, he'll hit.
Speaker 5 (11:31):
The Jacksonville where he'll have Rockie Minnie camp and Saturday
fans are invited to show up and see the number
two overall pick two way star Travis Hunter on the field.
He'll be mostly doing work on the offensive side of
the ball. They love his ball skills and how he
can impact the game more on that level, but maybe
they can convince Lion cole and to have a player
too on defense. Wouldn't be cool to see him catch
(11:52):
a touchdown from Trevor Lawrence, but also get a chance
to pick him off and practice as well. Fans will
get a chance to get those tickets potential tomorrow for
that Saturday mini camp and Duvall.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
OKM, you just mentioned Liam Cohen. It's rookie minicamp for
the rookie head coach too. How is he approaching this weekend.
Speaker 5 (12:11):
Yeah, he was telling some folks recently that he didn't
know he had to do all this homework on special
teams guys.
Speaker 6 (12:16):
But he's loving it. He's loving the entirety of the process.
First year head coach.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
And one thing I was told is that the tempo
and energy of practice is tangible.
Speaker 6 (12:25):
You could already feel it this days.
Speaker 5 (12:27):
That's been a big part of what Liam Cohen wants
to bring to Jacksonville. They were one of the highest
rated offensive plays in Tampa Bay and they were one
of the lowest and Jacksonville last year. Expect that to change.
Trevor Lawrence, Brian Thomas, Travis Hunter. They want some fireworks
on that offense. And speaking of Trevor Lawrence, there's been
a lot of conversations between Liam Cohen and Trevor Lawrence
(12:49):
in this early stage of OTA's Trevor Lawrence obviously coming
back from that torn labrum. They're easing him into practice.
He is throwing, not doing a ton, but the relationship
portion is key. I'm told that age gap is very small.
We've talked about how young Liam Cohen is. That's a
big benefit for him and Trevor Lawrence. They've already kicked
it off. They've already talked about footwork and mechanics and
(13:10):
waits for them to get better. And they've already pictured
what that offense is going to be with Brian Thomas
Junior making plays over the middle and Travis Hunter being
that electric weapon as well. They think this team is
ready to compete for this AFC South.
Speaker 7 (13:21):
Now, Hey, Tyler doing well, as Jeff Ireland saying, hey,
don't look yeah, you fired up.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
We keep, we keep, we keep seeing pictures of you
with you with your family, your dog's on your lap.
Speaker 7 (13:41):
You're ready to be a saint.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Okay, well, I guess someone wants to officially tell you
the news here as Kellen.
Speaker 7 (13:50):
One, Tyler, what's going on?
Speaker 8 (13:53):
Man?
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Congratulations you are going to be a New Orleans Saint.
Speaker 9 (13:58):
Man.
Speaker 7 (13:58):
We're fired up to have you.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Yes, appreciate you, no love, your love, your adversity.
Speaker 7 (14:06):
I love everything that you're about and.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
Provider for you to come in here and compete show
who you are seven years of college.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
I'll end to this Tyler Shuck now headed to the
Saints where he maybe has a big opportunity right off
the bat. As we're joined now by Jane Slater here
on the Insiders, I'm Tom Pellaicero, Jane. Rookie minicamp coming
up for Kellen Moore. He's got a quarterback and there's
more than that. What are we going to be watching
this weekend?
Speaker 10 (14:34):
Yeah, I think the big thing when you listen to
this new coaching staff, they really just it's all about
orientation when it comes to these rookies, getting to know them,
getting them involved here at this next level of the league. Obviously,
we've got to figure out what they're going to do
with their quarterback situation. But as you put there, Tyler
(14:54):
no stranger to an offense. He's been in college, it
seems like forever, a teammate with Juwan Johnson when Juwan
was in college and playing. They also have Spencer Rattler there.
But you know, I think the big thing for them,
at least with rookie training camp, as we talked, this
mini camp that's starting this week is for me.
Speaker 11 (15:12):
It's the offensive line.
Speaker 10 (15:13):
A lot of changes there, and it was Kellen Moore
this week who study didn't want to commit to what
his starting five was going to be right now. Kelvin
Banks obviously has some position flex so they're not committing
to where they expect him to line up. They just
want to make sure they're rolling out with the best there.
It's something that you know, obviously I heard in Dallas
when Kellen Moore was here. But we'll be interesting to
(15:34):
see how he jels with this new group and his
first head coaching job here in New Orleans. That doesn't
look like they're going to be practicing outside tom We've
been getting really big rain here in Dallas, and I
hear the flooding is expected to continue down in New
Orleans as they get this wave of rain that we've had,
so it looks like they'll be at least having practice indoors.
(15:55):
But really, rookie mini camp is all about just getting
these guys in the building, getting to know them a
little bit more, and then OTAs is when he really
starts solidifying relationships.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
The other cloud hanging over the Saints, of course, Jane,
has been the status of Derek Carr, whether or not
he's going to undergo shoulder surgery. Everything the Saints have
said to this point has been rather opaque. Derek Carr
is an alwayed himself that there are some decisions to
make and he's had tests.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Where do we stand right now?
Speaker 10 (16:24):
You know, I've covered some interesting stories that have had
twist and turns, and this might be one of the
more interesting ones I've covered tom in my now almost
ten years here at the NFL Network. When I was
in New Orleans, it came out I had of the
draft that Derek Carr had this shoulder injury, and I
think it shocked actually a lot of people even that
are familiar with the team and work around the facility,
(16:46):
and Mickey Loomis wasn't elaborating on it despite getting pressed
by reporters. I've asked a lot of questions, and I'm
sure they're very similar to the fans. Well, when did
this shoulder injury take place? Well, I've gotten just a
little bit more information today. It's my understanding that Derek
Carr absolutely believes that this shoulder injury took place during
the same game that he injured the wrist. Now, why
(17:08):
are we just hearing about it now? Well, it's my
understanding that he wasn't really throwing obviously after he injured
the wrist, and you know, afterwards they were essentially eliminated
from contention and he really didn't start throwing a bunch
until about here lately. Was he was getting ready to
start ramping up for the spring, and that's when he
noticed that he had this issue in his shoulder. So
(17:30):
it's my understanding that he has had surgery to that
shoulder before, because there are plenty of fans out there
and I've seen people, you know, on the airways, well,
why does he just go get shoulder surgery. Let's knock
this thing out, Let's get a resolution. Sounds like he's
trying to avoid that, but he wants to see if
he can actually play through with this shoulder injury.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
The other thing that's come up.
Speaker 10 (17:50):
Tom is I've heard people down in door Lean and say, well,
where is car Why isn't he around the building. It's
a new coaching staff. Why isn't he contributing more he
is to face the franchise. Well, it's my understanding that
he has been down to New Orleans twice in the
last few weeks. He's met with the team doctor at
the facility. Now it's unclear if he's met with Kellen.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Moore in person.
Speaker 10 (18:11):
I know that he and Kellen Moore have at least talked,
but it doesn't sound like and I've heard this because
you know, living here in Dallas, I've got a lot
of friends that are Saints bands.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
I know a lot of people in New Orleans.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
It was beginning to.
Speaker 11 (18:21):
Feel like maybe Carr was giving them the middle finger
down there.
Speaker 10 (18:24):
It is my understanding, according to someone close to him,
that that is not the case here. He has tried
to figure out what makes them most sense for his shoulder,
and he is in constant communication with Mickey Loomis. But
that sounds like there's going to be decisions sooner rather
than later. So that's all the update that I can
give you. I wish that I had more, but that's
more than we've had in the last couple of weeks.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
Time really good stuff there, Jane.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
Let's transition really quickly to the team that you cover
very close to home in Dallas. Brian Schottenheimer taking over
as the new head coach, or the least talked about
new head coaching higher maybe the least talked about Cowboys
team that we've had in a while here, But it
does sound like shot he's finding some ways to make
his mark.
Speaker 10 (19:06):
And maybe that's a good thing, Tom, because sometimes I
think those expectations are a little overwhelming sometimes for some
of the guys in the locker room. Even though they
say they put the star on the helmet, they know
it comes with it. One of the big issues that
they had, and I sort of reported and alluded to
this leading up to the draft, was this sense of
maybe the leadership in the chemistry in the locker room
wasn't what it should be. Remembered, there were so many
(19:28):
starters that were injured and obviously rehabbing away from.
Speaker 11 (19:31):
The facility, et cetera.
Speaker 10 (19:32):
This is a move that essentially puts Dak Prescott's locker
next to Micah Parsons.
Speaker 11 (19:37):
Why is that a big deal?
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Well, Micah and.
Speaker 10 (19:40):
Dak are essentially the leaders of both sides of the ball.
You've now moved Ceedee Lamb's locker over there where Zach
Martins used to be, and then they've just been very
careful about where they've moved people around. And I think
the interest here is that you've got guys communicating, You're
building better chemistry. I'm already hearing about ways that Schottenheimer
is reaching out to these guys outside of the FA facility,
(20:00):
trying to connect one on one. You know, one of
the one things I did ask him at his introductory
press conference, I said, Shaddy, what do you want to
be known for when.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
This is all said and done in Dallas?
Speaker 10 (20:10):
And he said, having one of the best cultures in.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
All of sports.
Speaker 10 (20:14):
And I thought that was a really interesting answer that
I don't think maybe had a lot of people perk up.
But I'm seeing him do those things that contributes and
lends itself to sort of that goal that he has.
And this is the same guy who had in his
wallet this desire for years to be the head coach
one day, and even though he said it was delayed,
it wasn't deferred. So he is a man of his word,
(20:36):
and we're seeing some of that already take place here
in Dallas.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Time now for count On It presented by Toro Welcoming Back,
Judy Batista and Welcoming in our Mark Cross to the conversation. Mark,
You've got a story on NFL dot com posted today
about second year breakout players. I'm thinking a while, guest,
we just ran a Drake May highlight clip right there,
so maybe he's one of them.
Speaker 12 (20:59):
Uh yeah, let's Drake May to that count on it
that he's going to explode in year two. And look,
last year, Drake May was almost a one man show
for that Patriots offense, that Patriots team, and he showed
all those flashes.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
He just couldn't maintain it game in and game out.
Speaker 12 (21:14):
Well, the Patriots have just completely rebuilt their infrastructure, number one,
starting with the head coach Mark Mike Brable, and then
two crushing it in free agency with high priced defensive
players Milton Williams and Carlton Davis. But they made smart
moves on the offensive side too, with Stefan Diggs and
receiver mc collins and some offensive linemen.
Speaker 4 (21:32):
And then they say, we're not done.
Speaker 12 (21:34):
We got to keep helping Drake May in the draft
and number one taking Will Campbell with that fourth pick
and then the explosive Trevon Henderson with the second pick.
So they were they said all this offseason, we got
to make sure that Drake May going into next year
isn't doing it all alone. They built a wonderful infrastructure
similar to what Chicago did with Caleb Williams.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
All Right, Mark Marvin Harrison Junior had sixty two receptions,
eight hundred and eighty five yards, eight touchdowns in his
rookie season.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
Not bad by any measure.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Marvin Harrison Junior is not there to be not bad, though,
what do you expect in year two?
Speaker 12 (22:09):
Beautiful words there not, But we don't want Marvin Harrison
not bad. We want Marvin Harrison's generational and best receiver
I had scouted in ten fifteen years, and I got
overshadowed last year by his classmates, Bryan Thomas junior and
the league neighbors there with New York. So that even
added to the what's going on with Marvin Harrison. And
there were certain games where you saw the Marvin Harrison
(22:31):
Junior we thought you'd see in other games where it's
like is he even playing?
Speaker 4 (22:35):
And a lot of that had to do with the.
Speaker 12 (22:36):
Inconsistency of Kyler Murray. Yes, Kyler, we got to straighten
this out. And then also just another year of him learning,
becoming more dependable down in and down out, and I
think the growth with he and Kyler we'll see a
every game. Marvin Harrison Junior is a force.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Margot, let's flip it over to the defensive side. Give
me a top pick from a year ago that you
think is going to be one of those break up
players you can count on.
Speaker 12 (23:01):
In your two Well, that's got to be Terry and
Arnold the corner from Detroit, and you saw a lot
of we can count on this young man with the
ten pass breakups, feisty always in the mixing scene, but
we also saw a lot of the what are you
doing here? Stop grabbing with ten penalties on defense. So
Arnold was much a lot of feast and famine when
(23:24):
you threw at him, but at least he was around
the ball making plays. I expect him to make a
huge jump with straightening out those penalties because those are
things I did not see when I studied his tape
coming out of Alabama. DJ Reid is in there now
to replace Carlton Davis. So maybe we'll have a DJ
Reid Sauz Gardner as they were at the Jets, now
DJ Reid with Terry and Arnold stepping into the big time.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
Mark stick around.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
More from you on the Rams and Texans in just
a little bit coming up after this, Let's send the
Cincinnati chick in on the Bengals, and a guy that
they are betting big is going to be able to
ache his massive potential. How does Shamar Stewart get there?
Has he calm him down from draft night? We'll ask
him when Shamar Stewart, number seventeen overall pick joins.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
Us right after this on The Insiders.
Speaker 10 (24:16):
Chamar, you are laser focused in this moment. Is this
the kind of intensity you're bringing to a Bengals defense?
Speaker 7 (24:22):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, especially for sure and some people.
I'm messed up.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
Really, I'm coming. What's making you upset about the moment
that you have right now?
Speaker 7 (24:33):
Nothing? I'm happy. I'm excited. Okay, just know I'm coming.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
That is Shamar Stuart, the newest member of the Cincinnati Bengals,
and with us right now on the Insiders with me,
Tom Pellicero and Judy Batista. Chamar, you came up grinning
that night. You're excited. I think you scared poor Jamie
Erdaal a little bit there with the laser focus, as
she put it out.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
How are you feeling now that.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
You've had a couple of weeks to let this whole
thing sink in?
Speaker 7 (25:00):
Man? I feel great, man, I feel great.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
You got rookie camp starts this weekend, right, Like, what
are you looking forward to most.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
You're finally going to get on the field in the NFL.
Speaker 13 (25:13):
And the thing I'm looking for forward to the most
is that being coached by coach Jerry.
Speaker 7 (25:18):
That's really the biggest thing for me.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
So in terms of just you know, the schematics, right,
there's gonna be a lot of teaching that go on,
not just in rookie mini caamp, but through OTAs for
the spring and into training camp here. How do you
feel just about the adjustment that you're going to be
going through learning something different than obviously what you played
in college.
Speaker 7 (25:39):
Oh, there's definitely be like a big adjustment period.
Speaker 13 (25:42):
I just feel like as long as I going down
with the right mindset, we're willing to.
Speaker 7 (25:46):
Learn, you know, just be a sponge. I think everything
should be with just fine.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
You are a starter for just one year in college.
You're still really young. You're only twenty one years old.
When ever, anybody talks about you before the draft since
the draft, they all talk.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
About what a very high ceiling you have. What do
you think you need.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
To work on to reach that very high ceiling that
everybody thinks you're going to get to?
Speaker 5 (26:13):
Uh?
Speaker 13 (26:13):
De have me some technique stuff, whether that's shedding blocks
or a pass rust plan or pastorals technique, just little
things like that I need to work on to get
to where everybody thinks I could be, where I know
I could be.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
So taking you back to draft night for a second, here,
you had that clean green suit when you were with
us on Good Morning Football. You didn't want to reveal
anything about what the suit was going to look like.
It's a great look, but you also had a very
distinct pendent on what's the backsword? Your dad have some
role in designing that.
Speaker 13 (26:45):
Oh yeah, So back in high school we were We're like, oh,
you need a logo. So it's like, what's your favorite Like,
what's your favorite animal that could represent you in the field.
I'm like, okay, hey, gorilla. So if you look closely,
Dependant has is a gorilla face with the two asses
on his first eyebrows. So it's stamp Shamar Stewart.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
I mean, could a hundred of you beat a gorilla?
Since that's all anybody on the internet has been talking about,
could one hundred of you beat a gorilla?
Speaker 7 (27:17):
I think so.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Gam in the headlock, I mean, listen, I would love
to see the gorilla is testing numbers because if they
match Schamar Stewart's from the combine, that would be pretty remarkable.
I'm not sure anybody is going to be able to
outdo the numbers that you that you put up there.
How are excited are you? Just to be able to
(27:39):
actually get on the field. There's so much conjecture right
if you're on social media, you're watching TV about it.
You can do this, you can't do this, the production's here, whatever.
Just to like actually get out there play football again
after all this, and.
Speaker 13 (27:51):
Man, I feel great, you know, being in the great
situation and be with the Bengals, and I'm just happy
to be around my new teammates and build that chemistry
up with them, you know, and just be the best today.
Speaker 7 (28:01):
They want me to be.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
Your new defensive coordinator.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Alcoholton was talking about He called you a chess piece
because you can line up all over the field. Where
are you most comfortable lining up? What are you most
comfortable doing?
Speaker 4 (28:16):
Uh?
Speaker 13 (28:16):
To be honest, I feel like I'm most comfortable doing
whatever I need, whatever I need to do to make
the team win. I'm almost comfortable with that. But like,
primarily I'm like five through a nine technique I feel
like that's why I'm most comfortable.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
You're joining us today wearing a very distinctive shirt. If
you can give us a little preview over right there,
you got Kobe in the Dodgers cap. Is there The
little message we always hear about the Mamba mentality is
there's some of that you're trying to apply as you
get into the NFL.
Speaker 13 (28:46):
Here, I mean, this is the shit that I was
where to go work out, and you know, every time
I gets tired or even drop.
Speaker 7 (28:52):
My head a little bit, see his face.
Speaker 13 (28:54):
So I had to get back strong because I know
his mentality how already worked. So just keep the same mindset. Well,
I'm going out to shying to work on my game.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
The last thing, go Ahad, You're obviously going to have
a very good quarterback on your own team. But of
the quarterbacks you know you're going to face in the NFL,
who are you looking forward to sacking the most?
Speaker 7 (29:17):
Lamar or Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
Choices right, schedules coming out, you can be circling. You
canna be circling those games. Whenever you get those two
cracks at the Ravens.
Speaker 13 (29:29):
I got to try to get the horror one man
those are like two of the hardest people to sack.
Speaker 7 (29:33):
Gotta get them.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
Well, Shamar, thanks, thanks a bunch for being here. Man,
It's great to see you again. Best luck this season. Right,
let's just again thank you.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
I heard when you were little, you looked up at
a billboard and it was a football player and he said,
I want to do that.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
Do you remember how old you.
Speaker 13 (29:53):
Were or what I was seven years old and I
was on the way to practice, and I asked my
grandpa who was that, and it was Derek came on
the billboard and ever since then has been my artist.
Speaker 7 (30:02):
That's what I named my game.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
After a perfect transition, as we bring in Michael f
Florio with his fantastic first year Fantasy Sleepers. I don't
know why the Sleepers not another f here Florio, but
all right, laid on me three, give me three first
year players that you like in fantasy football.
Speaker 7 (30:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 14 (30:24):
I know, Derek Henry might have been in high school
when Caleb Johnson said he saw that ad.
Speaker 11 (30:28):
I've seen Henry's high school game. Locks. It makes sense.
But I think Caleb Johnson.
Speaker 14 (30:33):
Who was a polarizing prospect, just fell to the ideal
landing spot. The Steelers already had Jalen Warren and still
opted to take Johnson in round three. And I'm thinking
this backfield operates similarly to how it has the last
couple of years, with Johnson playing the NAUSEI.
Speaker 11 (30:48):
Role, except he has breakaway speed.
Speaker 14 (30:50):
Naji Harris does not have a forty yard run in
his NFL career.
Speaker 11 (30:54):
Johnson's college tape is littered with big plays, so top
twenty four upside.
Speaker 14 (30:58):
Maybe higher, and you get him in eighth or ninth
round of early drafts. I also like Jayden Blue a
lot from the Cowboys. He was a Round five pick
and those players tend to get overlooked, but he fell
to a ideal landing spot as well because the Cowboys
are just thin at running back. His competition for touches
is Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, and Blue.
Speaker 11 (31:19):
Ran a four to three seven forty. He plays that fast.
Speaker 14 (31:22):
He has good hands out of the backfield, so even
in a split, he is explosive enough to be fantasy
viable and he has a chance to run away with
the job, and you get him in the.
Speaker 11 (31:30):
Double digit rounds.
Speaker 14 (31:31):
And lastly, Kyle Williams, he was a prospect I was
very high on.
Speaker 11 (31:36):
He has speed and quickness for days. He could win
after the catch, he could win downfield.
Speaker 14 (31:40):
He is a big play threat on each of those
types of touches, and the third round pick has a
chance to earn a starting role in consistent volume in
my opinion with the Patriots, because they are very thin
at wide receiver behind step Van Diggs and as.
Speaker 11 (31:54):
The leader of the Drake May Pipe train, I think
this is.
Speaker 14 (31:57):
A great pairing and you can get both of them
as a reserve in your fantasy drafts.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
One quick follow up, not a rookie Davante Adams ten
seconds or left, Mike left?
Speaker 4 (32:06):
Would you draft him this year?
Speaker 11 (32:09):
With Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay.
Speaker 14 (32:11):
Of course, he's going to catch maybe double digit touchdowns
this year.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
That's why we love Floria. Always sys An answery when
he doesn't know that it's coming.
Speaker 15 (32:18):
We know this.
Speaker 4 (32:19):
DeVante Adams is suiting up.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
It is the Rams off season program, wearing that familiar
number seventeen, albeit in a different jersey. He's had a
few of them here in recent years. Let's welcome back
Judy Matissa and Mark Ross. Judy, you've had a column
up about teams off season checklist.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
Let's start right there in LA. What are the Rams accomplished?
What do they still got to do?
Speaker 2 (32:42):
We just showed you one thing they accomplished. They got
Davonte Adams, who, despite a not so great quarterback situation
last year with the New York Jets, was still really productive.
They also kept Matthew Stafford in the fold. And maybe
we may look back with the benefit of hindsight and
realize that picking up that extra first round draft pick
in next year's draft is going to be their best
move because they could be in the market then for
(33:04):
the quarterback of the future, and they're going to have
multiple first rounders to look for that person with. Look,
this was a team that was surging in the second
half of last season.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
Maybe they could use.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
A little offensive line dep but this is a pretty
complete team that was playing really well at the end
of the season. Matthew Stafford looked really good, and Devonte
Adams with Matthew Stafford is probably going to look really
really good, Mark no doubt.
Speaker 12 (33:31):
I don't forget that the Rams gave the Eagles all
they could handle in the snow there in that playoff game,
and a massiveful job by Sean McVeigh and that first
round pick that they acquired to me was just an
outstanding probably the best trade of the draft. And you know,
didn't do a lot in Freezcy. But when you look
at the Rams over the last few years, they completely
crushed those third, fourth, and fifth round picks.
Speaker 11 (33:51):
So right now, you say.
Speaker 12 (33:52):
Well, they they didn't have it first, but I mean
the Pooka Nakuas and Kyra Williams and Kobe Turners and
Byron Youngs of the world that they have drafted over
the last few years. That's the foundation of the team.
And they probably got a couple more this year as well.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
Judy, how about the Texans. You look at their off season.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
Nick Cassaro is always aggressive in turning over multiple positions.
They had a big trade sending their left tackle out.
They've been in on a bunch of other deals here.
How do you feel about where they stand right now?
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Well, the two things that really undermined CJ. Stroud's development
last season. They had a lot of quarter a lot
of injuries to the wide receivers, and the offensive line
just caved in. The offensive line could not protect him
at all. Pretty much every highlight you see from last
season is CJ. Stroud either running for his life or
getting taken to the ground.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
So what did they do this off season?
Speaker 2 (34:42):
Well, they remade the offensive line free agency, they made
a trade, they did some work in the draft, and
they also got some wide receivers, which is particularly important.
We don't know exactly when Tank Dell is going to
be available, and of course Stefan Diggs has moved on
to New England. So those were the two things they
really needed to You're right, Nick Cassario is really good
(35:02):
at this.
Speaker 3 (35:02):
CJ.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Stroud did not have a great sophomore season. He had
a sophomore slump. But now that they have shored up
their two weaknesses, you would think we're going to get
a bounce back performance from c J.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
Stroud this season.
Speaker 12 (35:13):
Mark completely agree. And the expectations were so high for CJ.
Stroud and the Texans and they still want a division
made the playoffs like Doom and gloom, but it was
I think thirty Some other teams would take the year
that they had, but that rebuilt offensive line that you
know that had to happen and lost to that. They
had some young players that they had drafted. The Blake
Fishers who are going to start next year that should
(35:34):
come into his own and signed just about every you
know free agent offensive line they did. And then in
the draft, you know arianta Eser, the gigantic left tackle
from Minnesota. He'll he'll play a prominent role at some point.
And then the Iowa State receivers that they drafted Noel
and Higgins will help as well to offset Stefan Diggs.
(35:54):
So Texans really going in the offseason like, well, what
are they doing? Coming out of it?
Speaker 7 (35:59):
They did a lot.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
Good stuff, Mark Judy stick around. A lot more to
come on this episode of The Insiders, including a deep
dive into the Dolphins off season. They got a big
defensive lineman. I would say they could use.
Speaker 4 (36:14):
A little bit more. Cameron Wolf is down there in
South Florida.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
He will break everything down in advance of rookie Minnie
Camp right after that Sunny Insights.
Speaker 9 (36:24):
Yeah, who is you know what this is?
Speaker 8 (36:28):
Are you sure?
Speaker 9 (36:29):
You said you're ready for the smoke?
Speaker 8 (36:30):
You sure?
Speaker 10 (36:32):
Oh yeah, I'm ready for that heat.
Speaker 13 (36:33):
Man.
Speaker 9 (36:34):
Man, we couldn't be more excited. The congratulations. We are
all so happy. He really made an impression on us.
And it's time to start the next chapter. Congratulations, but
we look forward to seeing it, bro, and you earned it.
Speaker 8 (36:51):
Hey, man, I'm thrill you're coming down here, be waiting
for a Michigan guy.
Speaker 10 (36:56):
Oh yeah, I'm glad I've got a Michigan man.
Speaker 8 (36:59):
You got a whole You've got a lot of friends down,
a lot of Michigan people here. You'll feel right to home. Baby.
We'll take good care of you.
Speaker 1 (37:09):
I've seen a thousand of those draft calls. Mike McDaniel
the first one ever to begin with yo, who dis.
Speaker 4 (37:14):
But it works for him. Only Mike McDaniel can really
pull this off.
Speaker 1 (37:17):
Let's welcome back Cameron Wolf to the show, Judy Batista
and Tom Pelaicero here on the Insiders cam.
Speaker 4 (37:23):
It's been an interesting offseason, I guess, is one way
to put it in Miami. What have the Dolphins been
up to here during the early stages of the offseason program.
Speaker 5 (37:31):
Well, we just saw them talk to their first draft pick,
kind of grant. They're trying to change how this team
is viewed in the physicality upfront. But this past weekend
was all about the speed on the tracks. One of
the coolest events I've seen at the NFL stadium is
the Formula one Miami. This is their fourth year and
that's their starting quarterback. Two at Tsungo Bailoa, who did
a hot lap around the racetrack with Oscar Piastre, the McLaren.
Speaker 6 (37:55):
Driver who won this weekend.
Speaker 5 (37:57):
You see Jaln Phillips, you see Ethan Bonner and other Dolphins.
Speaker 6 (38:01):
They were teaching Charles Mclair, the Ferrari driver.
Speaker 5 (38:03):
How to kick field goals, how to spike balls into
the ground.
Speaker 7 (38:07):
This cool Formula one.
Speaker 5 (38:08):
NFL crossover and the stadium is where it's hosted. The
F one drivers actually have their locker room, their hospitality
tent inside the stadium.
Speaker 6 (38:17):
So it's been cool just to see how this is developed, seeing.
Speaker 5 (38:20):
That stadium transformed into an F one race and it
changes into the Dolphins rookie Minnie Camp which starts this weekend,
and they get a whole new group of guys to
bring in. And we talked about the big defensive lineman
and offensive lineman that really are going to make this
team more physical. I want to talk about two day
three guys, Allie Gordon, the running back and the quarterback.
Quin viewers, where they got in the sixth and the
(38:41):
seventh round, Gordon has a chance to carve out a
role in the running back room. They had the speed
of Devon ah Chan and Jalen Wright, maybe the power
of Gordon, who one scout told me if you watch
his twenty twenty three tape and he's that guy could
end up being one of the steals of this draft.
Speaker 6 (38:57):
A power runner to add, and they need a power run.
And Quinn Ewers.
Speaker 5 (39:01):
Gets a chance to develop behind to Whitsungo, Bay Looa
and Zach Wilson.
Speaker 6 (39:05):
He's a guy who thought he was going to go
in the third or fourth round.
Speaker 5 (39:07):
Kylie taudadat Texas gets the ball out of his hands quickly.
Now he gets a chance to develop there as a
third quarterback, maybe eventually beat the long term back of
the Tuas. So those are two guys I'm watching this
week in a lot.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
Cam Thank you very much, a lot more from you
as this week and this offseason rolls on. Get ready
for the twenty twenty five NFL season like never before.
With the highly anticipated NFL schedule release, every game revealed,
every rivalry, every rematch in every rookie debut. May fourteenth,
(39:40):
that's next Wednesday. Mark your calendar. Get all the details
at nfl dot com slash schedule release. This past Sunday,
the Senior Ball inducted five new members into its Hall
of Fame, Turan Armstead, Gino Atkins, John Gruden, Alex Mack,
and right there in the middle holding the helmet, Richard Sherman,
who made the most of his time in Mobil You
back in twenty eleven.
Speaker 4 (40:01):
Though it was not all smooth sailing.
Speaker 15 (40:05):
I remember I had had this play before the half
because I was just being greedy and trying to make
a play and I jumped, I went for a double move,
and it was late in o'clock, so it was obviously
gonna be a double move, and you you know, you
know this, and you gotta play smarter. But it's all
star game, so you just like, hey, any ops you
can get, you're going for. And I remember coach Marvin
Lewis was our coach for our team, and he gave
(40:27):
me ear full afterwards about how, you know, I was stupid,
play that was dumb and this, YadA YadA YadA, and
I remember I hated him after that. And so we
played them my rookie year, we played the Bengals and
I picked AJ Green off maybe first or second player
of the game, and I threw the ball. That's the
only pick ball I don't have because I threw it
at Marvin. I threw it at Mark. But we had
(40:48):
we had some good conversations since then. We're cool.
Speaker 7 (40:50):
Now you filed that one away that long?
Speaker 15 (40:53):
Yeah, I filed it away. I mean it wasn't that long.
It was a couple of months. It was a couple
of months.
Speaker 1 (40:59):
You can hear me laughing in the background, because that
is just a quintessential Richard Sherman's story right there, Judy.
He didn't even have an invite to the combine. He
told me when he went to the Senior bull It's
why every checkpoint in that pre draft process matters.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
I was just hoping that that tape that we had
there of the interception was going to keep running in
we would actually see him throwing the ball at Marvin Lewis.
What I will say about Marvin Lewis and Richard Sherman,
neither gentleman is shy about expressing their feelings, So I
am not surprised to hear that that exchange took place.
Speaker 1 (41:33):
It was fun seeing those guys because everybody has the
story For Geno Atkins, he was regarded as too small
and he had to show he could stand up against
the big boys. For Alex Mack, it was, hey, I
might need to show some versatility.
Speaker 4 (41:44):
Let me experiment a little bit of guard here.
Speaker 1 (41:46):
John Gruden coached in that game on four different occasions.
Then obviously Richard Sherman, one of the great late round
success stories, a fifth round draft pick by the Seahawks,
now into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame. We're going
to be back, girl, Me and Judy we got your
all off season to see at some time.
Speaker 13 (42:02):
East m m HM
We know the plan for Travis Hunter this season in Jackson,
but how exactly will the Jaguars kick off his crash course.
This week, Cameron Wolfe will tell you where the two
way star will be with more rocky mini camps kick
off around the league. Samar Stewart is also now a
big cat. What's the first step in reaching his potential
with the Bengals? And what do you think about getting
(00:29):
two shots the sack Lamari season? We'll ask him when
the number seventeen overall pick joins the show tonight. It
is May sixth, and still no clarity on the two
biggest veteran QB names with uncertain futures, Laron Rodgers or
Kirk Cousins have a new home. First, we will tell
you the latest now that I've got my microphone on.
(00:50):
How about the dominoes that could define the Steelers season?
Welcome inside with the Insiders alongside Judy Batista. I am
Tom pelisera one hundred and twenty one days out now
from the NFL kickoff game, just eight short days away
from the schedule release, which means some of those early
announcements about the big national TV games those could end
(01:11):
up being just days away, and we're just three days
away from another wave of rookie mini camps, the biggest
wave of all, which means the first look at guys
like Travis Hunter wearing their new uniform down in Jacksonville
where apparently they plan to clone Travis Hunter. That's probably
not legal, definitely would be a big story. The bottom
(01:34):
line is they do envision him being able to do
a lot of different things for them, which is why
they're willing to trade up to number two and go
get him as we bring in our Cameron Wolf, I
think to the conversation right now, I'm just going to
talk to Judy about it. Jody, what do you think
about Travis Hunter and exactly what the plan is going
to be here as we move forward.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Well, look, this is our first opportunity to see what
the plan is. They have said they see him as
as a wide receiver first and then they will work.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
In a package on defense.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
But again, this is the first time we're going to
see him on the field and see how they're going
to divvy up the snaps. He has made it very
clear he wants to play both positions. He would like
to play them full time if he can I'm not
sure that any team in the NFL thinks a player
can play full time, both time, both sides of the ball.
But the Jaguars are going to give us our first
(02:25):
peek here in rookie mini camp. I suspect that what
we see here is not going to be the final
plan for him.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
They will work.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Through it as they go towards through OTAs and then
obviously in training camp will get a much better look
at how we think they're going to deploy him.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
But look, this is going.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
To be one of the most interesting players, if not
the most interesting player of the twenty twenty five season
to watch. We have It's been a long long time
since we saw a true two way player. Really excited
to watch Travis Hunter.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
And as we see these rookie camps bring the player
into town for the first time on a full time basis,
we also very quickly start to have more rookie contracts
getting done. They are slotted contracts. There are different things
to negotiate in terms of language, but Tyler Booker already
done in Dallas now, the Chiefs announcing today that they
have agreed to terms with the number thirty two overall pick,
(03:18):
Josh Simmons the offensive tackle for your rookie contract that
includes fourteen point seven million dollars guarantee. In other news
are on the NFL still no news, which the Steelers
hope is good news.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
With Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Still at this point pondering his future as he has
detailed publicly, Pittsburgh has shown patients, particularly coach Mike Tomlin,
in terms of figuring out exactly when or if Aaron
Rodgers is going to join that team. Judy, we know
that they have drafted a quarterback in Will Howard. We
know that they brought back Mason Rudolph. They have contingency plans,
(03:54):
but this is probably the biggest loose end that still
needs to be tied up. You would hope sometime between
now and training camps beginning in late July.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Well, there are certainly people in the Steelers building who
had hoped this would be wrapped up by now. Having
said that, look, we just saw Aaron Rodgers at the
Kentucky Derby. He looked completely fine, which is great news.
I thought the fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers did not
go for a quarterback earlier in the draft. They did
draft a quarterback, but it was late so that's clearly
(04:25):
not a quarterback they think could step in in Week
one if he had to. The fact that they didn't
go for a quarterback earlier suggested to Need that they
are still confident that Aaron Rodgers is on his way.
When we talked to members of the Steelers organization at
the annual meeting back in late March, that's a while
ago now, they were pretty confident at that point that
(04:46):
Aaron Rodgers was going to.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Be a Pittsburgh Steeler.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
At that point, Artney too, who is the owner of
the franchise, was already saying, well, maybe this has taken
a little bit longer than we thought it was going
to initially. Obviously a lot of time has a la
since then, so this has certainly taken much much longer.
But as we have been saying now for weeks months,
there's nothing on the NFL calendar that forces a decision
(05:11):
right now.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
So if the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Don't force the decision, if the Steelers are okay with
this running through the spring and maybe into the summer,
then there's nothing to force Aaron Rodgers to make up
his mind. You wonder when the Steelers would like to
have him in do they care about him missing the
off season program. Would they care about him missing that
are in mini camp, that's near the end of June.
(05:35):
You know, you wonder at what point they would really
like to have their quarterback situations. They just said they've
got contingency plans. I'm not sure going with Mason Rudolph
as the starting quarterback is a great contingency plan. And
of course if Aaron Rodgers is completely out of the picture,
then you have to ask to they then make a
play to try to trade for Kirk Cousins, but that
(05:56):
is several steps down the line. I think they are
still feeling pretty good that it's going to be Aaron
Rodgers someday.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
On part of the reason there may not be the
urgency to pivot to the next move Judy is the
Steelers at this point are really the only team for
Kirk Cousins. If the Falcons are going to actually trade him,
which teams have not gotten the impression that they really
have any urgency to do that, then at this point
the only team that has a truly unsettled starting quarterback
situation would be in Pittsburgh. The Falcons already cruise pass
(06:26):
the first soft deadline picked up a ten million dollars
guaranteed portion of cousins base salary in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
That's subject to offsets.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
They cruised through another soft deadline, which was the draft,
and you saw teams like Minnesota that had been banding
about as a I would fairly say a long shot
possibility for Kirk Cousins to come in as a backup.
It was unlikely to happen. But they go and they
trade for somebody else in Sam Howell. The Falcons have
continually said Judy that they would anticipate keeping Kirk Cousins
(06:56):
on the roster and that that's the way that they
intend to proceed. That's sometimes his team speak for hey,
come make us an offer. It just doesn't seem like
there has been a whole lot of movement here until
the Falcons are willing to make a move and Kirk
is willing to waive his no trade clause, which at
some point you would think he might not want to do,
and just parachute into a team in training camp. Here,
(07:16):
you may actually end up with something that would have
seemed unfathomable when he got bench last December, which is
Kirk Cousins being a twenty seven point five million dollars
backup in Atlanta in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, and I guess I just don't know who that
is good for. It doesn't seem to be that it
would be good for Kirk Cousins. He would be a backup,
you know. But as you pointed out, there's not that
many starting opportunities out there right now. There's just no
team other than the Stealers that have a truly unsettled
quarterback situation. So when he looks at the landscape right now,
(07:50):
there doesn't appear to be an obvious landing spot. But
of course if he waits and quarterbacks inevitably get injured,
does an opportunity open up there. It's certainly doesn't seem
to be a good situation for Michael Pennix.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
I don't care what the.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
Falcons say about this.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
There is no way that Michael Penix, going into his
second year, is in a better spot with Kirk Cousins
looking over his shoulder than he would be with Kirk
Cousins somewhere else.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
So I have a little bit of time for this
to play out.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
But you're right, I mean, the market just has not
existed and the market has managed to shrink even further
to the places that would be attractive for kirk Cousins.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
And who would that be good for, you asked, Judy.
Maybe the people who bought kirk Cousins number eighteen Falcons
jerseys and they're snow crossing their fingers that maybe there's
some situation where it gets some other opportunity. If you
pre ordered a Shduur Sanders number two Browns jersey, you're
going to be disappointed because Cleveland did unveil their numbers
in the past couple of days. Here Shuart Sanders getting
(08:45):
number twelve, not the number two that he wore in
college that was given to DeAndre Carter.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
This is an interesting graphic right there.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Because if you just said that out of context, I
kind of said, is that the amount of money they're
making that's kind of all over the blok? Is that
the number of games they've missed in the past couple
of years. Here it is the most unique quarterback depth
chart we've got in the league. Right, Joe Flack Award
in fifteen. They could be oh, he's going into the
year fifteen. It's could be in a lot of different things.
(09:13):
But Judy, when you look ahead to this offseason, it
is for better worse can be one of the driving
storylines in the NFL, which is ken Shador Sanders, a
fifth round pick, do something that very few fifth round
picks managed to do at the quarterback position, which is
get onto the field in the first year.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
I mean it's possible that they did draft two rookies
and he was not the first rookie they drafted. You
have to think going into this that Joe Flacco is
in the driver's seat.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Kenny Pickett is the one who has to be.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Looking over his shoulder and saying, like, wait a minute,
how many quarterbacks are they going to keep. They have
to keep Toshan Watson because of the money situation. If
Joe Flacco wins the starting job, you assume they're going
to keep the two guys that they drafted. That would
mean Kenny Pickett is sort of the odd man out.
This is going to be easily the most interesting quarterback
competition we have seen a long time. You talked about
(10:01):
the depth chart, It's like the deepest depth chart effort.
There's like a million quarterbacks out there. My first question
would be, how are you going to divide the reps? Up,
but that's for a later date.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Our depth chart in terms of South Florida Reporter is
very short. It's actually only one person. It's Cameron Wolf
who finally is here now to talk about that man,
Travis Hunter, who is wearing number twelve now for the
Jacksonville Jaguars the Big Move Cam. You were in Maria
when the Browns made that trade, picking up a future
first round pick and more to give the Jaguars the
opportunity to get the guy that, as James Gladstone said,
(10:34):
they've been hunting. You look ahead to Rookie Minnie Camp
this weekend. How do they get Travis Hunter, the two
way player rolling on both sides of the ball.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
Well, Tom I spoke to a Jaguars coast to day
and he said that when we interviewed Travis Hunter, we
knew right away he was a culture builder on and
off the field, and so that is the element, the
energy they're going to want to see the first weekend
for him a Rookie Minnie Camp. They won't do a
lot of install but you'll see a lot of Travis
Hunter on the field. And one thing that was reiterated
to me this week is that Travis Hunter will start
(11:05):
off as a wide receiver first. He's going to get
most of his time at wide receiver and then learn
defensive back as the summer goes along. It was expressed
to me as he'll major in offense and minor in defense,
but eventually they want him to be a double major
in both offense and defense like he did at Colorado.
And that is a great reference because from what I'm told,
(11:25):
Travis Hunter will walk his graduation stage on Thursday at Colorado.
Speaker 6 (11:30):
Friday, he'll hit.
Speaker 5 (11:31):
The Jacksonville where he'll have Rockie Minnie camp and Saturday
fans are invited to show up and see the number
two overall pick two way star Travis Hunter on the field.
He'll be mostly doing work on the offensive side of
the ball. They love his ball skills and how he
can impact the game more on that level, but maybe
they can convince Lion cole and to have a player
too on defense. Wouldn't be cool to see him catch
(11:52):
a touchdown from Trevor Lawrence, but also get a chance
to pick him off and practice as well. Fans will
get a chance to get those tickets potential tomorrow for
that Saturday mini camp and Duvall.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
OKM, you just mentioned Liam Cohen. It's rookie minicamp for
the rookie head coach too. How is he approaching this weekend.
Speaker 5 (12:11):
Yeah, he was telling some folks recently that he didn't
know he had to do all this homework on special
teams guys.
Speaker 6 (12:16):
But he's loving it. He's loving the entirety of the process.
First year head coach.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
And one thing I was told is that the tempo
and energy of practice is tangible.
Speaker 6 (12:25):
You could already feel it this days.
Speaker 5 (12:27):
That's been a big part of what Liam Cohen wants
to bring to Jacksonville. They were one of the highest
rated offensive plays in Tampa Bay and they were one
of the lowest and Jacksonville last year. Expect that to change.
Trevor Lawrence, Brian Thomas, Travis Hunter. They want some fireworks
on that offense. And speaking of Trevor Lawrence, there's been
a lot of conversations between Liam Cohen and Trevor Lawrence
(12:49):
in this early stage of OTA's Trevor Lawrence obviously coming
back from that torn labrum. They're easing him into practice.
He is throwing, not doing a ton, but the relationship
portion is key. I'm told that age gap is very small.
We've talked about how young Liam Cohen is. That's a
big benefit for him and Trevor Lawrence. They've already kicked
it off. They've already talked about footwork and mechanics and
(13:10):
waits for them to get better. And they've already pictured
what that offense is going to be with Brian Thomas
Junior making plays over the middle and Travis Hunter being
that electric weapon as well. They think this team is
ready to compete for this AFC South.
Speaker 7 (13:21):
Now, Hey, Tyler doing well, as Jeff Ireland saying, hey,
don't look yeah, you fired up.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
We keep, we keep, we keep seeing pictures of you
with you with your family, your dog's on your lap.
Speaker 7 (13:41):
You're ready to be a saint.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Okay, well, I guess someone wants to officially tell you
the news here as Kellen.
Speaker 7 (13:50):
One, Tyler, what's going on?
Speaker 8 (13:53):
Man?
Speaker 4 (13:55):
Congratulations you are going to be a New Orleans Saint.
Speaker 9 (13:58):
Man.
Speaker 7 (13:58):
We're fired up to have you.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Yes, appreciate you, no love, your love, your adversity.
Speaker 7 (14:06):
I love everything that you're about and.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
Provider for you to come in here and compete show
who you are seven years of college.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
I'll end to this Tyler Shuck now headed to the
Saints where he maybe has a big opportunity right off
the bat. As we're joined now by Jane Slater here
on the Insiders, I'm Tom Pellaicero, Jane. Rookie minicamp coming
up for Kellen Moore. He's got a quarterback and there's
more than that. What are we going to be watching
this weekend?
Speaker 10 (14:34):
Yeah, I think the big thing when you listen to
this new coaching staff, they really just it's all about
orientation when it comes to these rookies, getting to know them,
getting them involved here at this next level of the league. Obviously,
we've got to figure out what they're going to do
with their quarterback situation. But as you put there, Tyler
(14:54):
no stranger to an offense. He's been in college, it
seems like forever, a teammate with Juwan Johnson when Juwan
was in college and playing. They also have Spencer Rattler there.
But you know, I think the big thing for them,
at least with rookie training camp, as we talked, this
mini camp that's starting this week is for me.
Speaker 11 (15:12):
It's the offensive line.
Speaker 10 (15:13):
A lot of changes there, and it was Kellen Moore
this week who study didn't want to commit to what
his starting five was going to be right now. Kelvin
Banks obviously has some position flex so they're not committing
to where they expect him to line up. They just
want to make sure they're rolling out with the best there.
It's something that you know, obviously I heard in Dallas
when Kellen Moore was here. But we'll be interesting to
(15:34):
see how he jels with this new group and his
first head coaching job here in New Orleans. That doesn't
look like they're going to be practicing outside tom We've
been getting really big rain here in Dallas, and I
hear the flooding is expected to continue down in New
Orleans as they get this wave of rain that we've had,
so it looks like they'll be at least having practice indoors.
(15:55):
But really, rookie mini camp is all about just getting
these guys in the building, getting to know them a
little bit more, and then OTAs is when he really
starts solidifying relationships.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
The other cloud hanging over the Saints, of course, Jane,
has been the status of Derek Carr, whether or not
he's going to undergo shoulder surgery. Everything the Saints have
said to this point has been rather opaque. Derek Carr
is an alwayed himself that there are some decisions to
make and he's had tests.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Where do we stand right now?
Speaker 10 (16:24):
You know, I've covered some interesting stories that have had
twist and turns, and this might be one of the
more interesting ones I've covered tom in my now almost
ten years here at the NFL Network. When I was
in New Orleans, it came out I had of the
draft that Derek Carr had this shoulder injury, and I
think it shocked actually a lot of people even that
are familiar with the team and work around the facility,
(16:46):
and Mickey Loomis wasn't elaborating on it despite getting pressed
by reporters. I've asked a lot of questions, and I'm
sure they're very similar to the fans. Well, when did
this shoulder injury take place? Well, I've gotten just a
little bit more information today. It's my understanding that Derek
Carr absolutely believes that this shoulder injury took place during
the same game that he injured the wrist. Now, why
(17:08):
are we just hearing about it now? Well, it's my
understanding that he wasn't really throwing obviously after he injured
the wrist, and you know, afterwards they were essentially eliminated
from contention and he really didn't start throwing a bunch
until about here lately. Was he was getting ready to
start ramping up for the spring, and that's when he
noticed that he had this issue in his shoulder. So
(17:30):
it's my understanding that he has had surgery to that
shoulder before, because there are plenty of fans out there
and I've seen people, you know, on the airways, well,
why does he just go get shoulder surgery. Let's knock
this thing out, Let's get a resolution. Sounds like he's
trying to avoid that, but he wants to see if
he can actually play through with this shoulder injury.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
The other thing that's come up.
Speaker 10 (17:50):
Tom is I've heard people down in door Lean and say, well,
where is car Why isn't he around the building. It's
a new coaching staff. Why isn't he contributing more he
is to face the franchise. Well, it's my understanding that
he has been down to New Orleans twice in the
last few weeks. He's met with the team doctor at
the facility. Now it's unclear if he's met with Kellen.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Moore in person.
Speaker 10 (18:11):
I know that he and Kellen Moore have at least talked,
but it doesn't sound like and I've heard this because
you know, living here in Dallas, I've got a lot
of friends that are Saints bands.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
I know a lot of people in New Orleans.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
It was beginning to.
Speaker 11 (18:21):
Feel like maybe Carr was giving them the middle finger
down there.
Speaker 10 (18:24):
It is my understanding, according to someone close to him,
that that is not the case here. He has tried
to figure out what makes them most sense for his shoulder,
and he is in constant communication with Mickey Loomis. But
that sounds like there's going to be decisions sooner rather
than later. So that's all the update that I can
give you. I wish that I had more, but that's
more than we've had in the last couple of weeks.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
Time really good stuff there, Jane.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
Let's transition really quickly to the team that you cover
very close to home in Dallas. Brian Schottenheimer taking over
as the new head coach, or the least talked about
new head coaching higher maybe the least talked about Cowboys
team that we've had in a while here, But it
does sound like shot he's finding some ways to make
his mark.
Speaker 10 (19:06):
And maybe that's a good thing, Tom, because sometimes I
think those expectations are a little overwhelming sometimes for some
of the guys in the locker room. Even though they
say they put the star on the helmet, they know
it comes with it. One of the big issues that
they had, and I sort of reported and alluded to
this leading up to the draft, was this sense of
maybe the leadership in the chemistry in the locker room
wasn't what it should be. Remembered, there were so many
(19:28):
starters that were injured and obviously rehabbing away from.
Speaker 11 (19:31):
The facility, et cetera.
Speaker 10 (19:32):
This is a move that essentially puts Dak Prescott's locker
next to Micah Parsons.
Speaker 11 (19:37):
Why is that a big deal?
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Well, Micah and.
Speaker 10 (19:40):
Dak are essentially the leaders of both sides of the ball.
You've now moved Ceedee Lamb's locker over there where Zach
Martins used to be, and then they've just been very
careful about where they've moved people around. And I think
the interest here is that you've got guys communicating, You're
building better chemistry. I'm already hearing about ways that Schottenheimer
is reaching out to these guys outside of the FA facility,
(20:00):
trying to connect one on one. You know, one of
the one things I did ask him at his introductory
press conference, I said, Shaddy, what do you want to
be known for when.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
This is all said and done in Dallas?
Speaker 10 (20:10):
And he said, having one of the best cultures in.
Speaker 3 (20:13):
All of sports.
Speaker 10 (20:14):
And I thought that was a really interesting answer that
I don't think maybe had a lot of people perk up.
But I'm seeing him do those things that contributes and
lends itself to sort of that goal that he has.
And this is the same guy who had in his
wallet this desire for years to be the head coach
one day, and even though he said it was delayed,
it wasn't deferred. So he is a man of his word,
(20:36):
and we're seeing some of that already take place here
in Dallas.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Time now for count On It presented by Toro Welcoming Back,
Judy Batista and Welcoming in our Mark Cross to the conversation. Mark,
You've got a story on NFL dot com posted today
about second year breakout players. I'm thinking a while, guest,
we just ran a Drake May highlight clip right there,
so maybe he's one of them.
Speaker 12 (20:59):
Uh yeah, let's Drake May to that count on it
that he's going to explode in year two. And look,
last year, Drake May was almost a one man show
for that Patriots offense, that Patriots team, and he showed
all those flashes.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
He just couldn't maintain it game in and game out.
Speaker 12 (21:14):
Well, the Patriots have just completely rebuilt their infrastructure, number one,
starting with the head coach Mark Mike Brable, and then
two crushing it in free agency with high priced defensive
players Milton Williams and Carlton Davis. But they made smart
moves on the offensive side too, with Stefan Diggs and
receiver mc collins and some offensive linemen.
Speaker 4 (21:32):
And then they say, we're not done.
Speaker 12 (21:34):
We got to keep helping Drake May in the draft
and number one taking Will Campbell with that fourth pick
and then the explosive Trevon Henderson with the second pick.
So they were they said all this offseason, we got
to make sure that Drake May going into next year
isn't doing it all alone. They built a wonderful infrastructure
similar to what Chicago did with Caleb Williams.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
All Right, Mark Marvin Harrison Junior had sixty two receptions,
eight hundred and eighty five yards, eight touchdowns in his
rookie season.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
Not bad by any measure.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Marvin Harrison Junior is not there to be not bad, though,
what do you expect in year two?
Speaker 12 (22:09):
Beautiful words there not, But we don't want Marvin Harrison
not bad. We want Marvin Harrison's generational and best receiver
I had scouted in ten fifteen years, and I got
overshadowed last year by his classmates, Bryan Thomas junior and
the league neighbors there with New York. So that even
added to the what's going on with Marvin Harrison. And
there were certain games where you saw the Marvin Harrison
(22:31):
Junior we thought you'd see in other games where it's
like is he even playing?
Speaker 4 (22:35):
And a lot of that had to do with the.
Speaker 12 (22:36):
Inconsistency of Kyler Murray. Yes, Kyler, we got to straighten
this out. And then also just another year of him learning,
becoming more dependable down in and down out, and I
think the growth with he and Kyler we'll see a
every game. Marvin Harrison Junior is a force.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Margot, let's flip it over to the defensive side. Give
me a top pick from a year ago that you
think is going to be one of those break up
players you can count on.
Speaker 12 (23:01):
In your two Well, that's got to be Terry and
Arnold the corner from Detroit, and you saw a lot
of we can count on this young man with the
ten pass breakups, feisty always in the mixing scene, but
we also saw a lot of the what are you
doing here? Stop grabbing with ten penalties on defense. So
Arnold was much a lot of feast and famine when
(23:24):
you threw at him, but at least he was around
the ball making plays. I expect him to make a
huge jump with straightening out those penalties because those are
things I did not see when I studied his tape
coming out of Alabama. DJ Reid is in there now
to replace Carlton Davis. So maybe we'll have a DJ
Reid Sauz Gardner as they were at the Jets, now
DJ Reid with Terry and Arnold stepping into the big time.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
Mark stick around.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
More from you on the Rams and Texans in just
a little bit coming up after this, Let's send the
Cincinnati chick in on the Bengals, and a guy that
they are betting big is going to be able to
ache his massive potential. How does Shamar Stewart get there?
Has he calm him down from draft night? We'll ask
him when Shamar Stewart, number seventeen overall pick joins.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
Us right after this on The Insiders.
Speaker 10 (24:16):
Chamar, you are laser focused in this moment. Is this
the kind of intensity you're bringing to a Bengals defense?
Speaker 7 (24:22):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, especially for sure and some people.
I'm messed up.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
Really, I'm coming. What's making you upset about the moment
that you have right now?
Speaker 7 (24:33):
Nothing? I'm happy. I'm excited. Okay, just know I'm coming.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
That is Shamar Stuart, the newest member of the Cincinnati Bengals,
and with us right now on the Insiders with me,
Tom Pellicero and Judy Batista. Chamar, you came up grinning
that night. You're excited. I think you scared poor Jamie
Erdaal a little bit there with the laser focus, as
she put it out.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
How are you feeling now that.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
You've had a couple of weeks to let this whole
thing sink in?
Speaker 7 (25:00):
Man? I feel great, man, I feel great.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
You got rookie camp starts this weekend, right, Like, what
are you looking forward to most.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
You're finally going to get on the field in the NFL.
Speaker 13 (25:13):
And the thing I'm looking for forward to the most
is that being coached by coach Jerry.
Speaker 7 (25:18):
That's really the biggest thing for me.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
So in terms of just you know, the schematics, right,
there's gonna be a lot of teaching that go on,
not just in rookie mini caamp, but through OTAs for
the spring and into training camp here. How do you
feel just about the adjustment that you're going to be
going through learning something different than obviously what you played
in college.
Speaker 7 (25:39):
Oh, there's definitely be like a big adjustment period.
Speaker 13 (25:42):
I just feel like as long as I going down
with the right mindset, we're willing to.
Speaker 7 (25:46):
Learn, you know, just be a sponge. I think everything
should be with just fine.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
You are a starter for just one year in college.
You're still really young. You're only twenty one years old.
When ever, anybody talks about you before the draft since
the draft, they all talk.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
About what a very high ceiling you have. What do
you think you need.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
To work on to reach that very high ceiling that
everybody thinks you're going to get to?
Speaker 5 (26:13):
Uh?
Speaker 13 (26:13):
De have me some technique stuff, whether that's shedding blocks
or a pass rust plan or pastorals technique, just little
things like that I need to work on to get
to where everybody thinks I could be, where I know
I could be.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
So taking you back to draft night for a second, here,
you had that clean green suit when you were with
us on Good Morning Football. You didn't want to reveal
anything about what the suit was going to look like.
It's a great look, but you also had a very
distinct pendent on what's the backsword? Your dad have some
role in designing that.
Speaker 13 (26:45):
Oh yeah, So back in high school we were We're like, oh,
you need a logo. So it's like, what's your favorite Like,
what's your favorite animal that could represent you in the field.
I'm like, okay, hey, gorilla. So if you look closely,
Dependant has is a gorilla face with the two asses
on his first eyebrows. So it's stamp Shamar Stewart.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
I mean, could a hundred of you beat a gorilla?
Since that's all anybody on the internet has been talking about,
could one hundred of you beat a gorilla?
Speaker 7 (27:17):
I think so.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Gam in the headlock, I mean, listen, I would love
to see the gorilla is testing numbers because if they
match Schamar Stewart's from the combine, that would be pretty remarkable.
I'm not sure anybody is going to be able to
outdo the numbers that you that you put up there.
How are excited are you? Just to be able to
(27:39):
actually get on the field. There's so much conjecture right
if you're on social media, you're watching TV about it.
You can do this, you can't do this, the production's here, whatever.
Just to like actually get out there play football again
after all this, and.
Speaker 13 (27:51):
Man, I feel great, you know, being in the great
situation and be with the Bengals, and I'm just happy
to be around my new teammates and build that chemistry
up with them, you know, and just be the best today.
Speaker 7 (28:01):
They want me to be.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
Your new defensive coordinator.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Alcoholton was talking about He called you a chess piece
because you can line up all over the field. Where
are you most comfortable lining up? What are you most
comfortable doing?
Speaker 4 (28:16):
Uh?
Speaker 13 (28:16):
To be honest, I feel like I'm most comfortable doing
whatever I need, whatever I need to do to make
the team win. I'm almost comfortable with that. But like,
primarily I'm like five through a nine technique I feel
like that's why I'm most comfortable.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
You're joining us today wearing a very distinctive shirt. If
you can give us a little preview over right there,
you got Kobe in the Dodgers cap. Is there The
little message we always hear about the Mamba mentality is
there's some of that you're trying to apply as you
get into the NFL.
Speaker 13 (28:46):
Here, I mean, this is the shit that I was
where to go work out, and you know, every time
I gets tired or even drop.
Speaker 7 (28:52):
My head a little bit, see his face.
Speaker 13 (28:54):
So I had to get back strong because I know
his mentality how already worked. So just keep the same mindset. Well,
I'm going out to shying to work on my game.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
The last thing, go Ahad, You're obviously going to have
a very good quarterback on your own team. But of
the quarterbacks you know you're going to face in the NFL,
who are you looking forward to sacking the most?
Speaker 7 (29:17):
Lamar or Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
Choices right, schedules coming out, you can be circling. You
canna be circling those games. Whenever you get those two
cracks at the Ravens.
Speaker 13 (29:29):
I got to try to get the horror one man
those are like two of the hardest people to sack.
Speaker 7 (29:33):
Gotta get them.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
Well, Shamar, thanks, thanks a bunch for being here. Man,
It's great to see you again. Best luck this season. Right,
let's just again thank you.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
I heard when you were little, you looked up at
a billboard and it was a football player and he said,
I want to do that.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
Do you remember how old you.
Speaker 13 (29:53):
Were or what I was seven years old and I
was on the way to practice, and I asked my
grandpa who was that, and it was Derek came on
the billboard and ever since then has been my artist.
Speaker 7 (30:02):
That's what I named my game.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
After a perfect transition, as we bring in Michael f
Florio with his fantastic first year Fantasy Sleepers. I don't
know why the Sleepers not another f here Florio, but
all right, laid on me three, give me three first
year players that you like in fantasy football.
Speaker 7 (30:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 14 (30:24):
I know, Derek Henry might have been in high school
when Caleb Johnson said he saw that ad.
Speaker 11 (30:28):
I've seen Henry's high school game. Locks. It makes sense.
But I think Caleb Johnson.
Speaker 14 (30:33):
Who was a polarizing prospect, just fell to the ideal
landing spot. The Steelers already had Jalen Warren and still
opted to take Johnson in round three. And I'm thinking
this backfield operates similarly to how it has the last
couple of years, with Johnson playing the NAUSEI.
Speaker 11 (30:48):
Role, except he has breakaway speed.
Speaker 14 (30:50):
Naji Harris does not have a forty yard run in
his NFL career.
Speaker 11 (30:54):
Johnson's college tape is littered with big plays, so top
twenty four upside.
Speaker 14 (30:58):
Maybe higher, and you get him in eighth or ninth
round of early drafts. I also like Jayden Blue a
lot from the Cowboys. He was a Round five pick
and those players tend to get overlooked, but he fell
to a ideal landing spot as well because the Cowboys
are just thin at running back. His competition for touches
is Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, and Blue.
Speaker 11 (31:19):
Ran a four to three seven forty. He plays that fast.
Speaker 14 (31:22):
He has good hands out of the backfield, so even
in a split, he is explosive enough to be fantasy
viable and he has a chance to run away with
the job, and you get him in the.
Speaker 11 (31:30):
Double digit rounds.
Speaker 14 (31:31):
And lastly, Kyle Williams, he was a prospect I was
very high on.
Speaker 11 (31:36):
He has speed and quickness for days. He could win
after the catch, he could win downfield.
Speaker 14 (31:40):
He is a big play threat on each of those
types of touches, and the third round pick has a
chance to earn a starting role in consistent volume in
my opinion with the Patriots, because they are very thin
at wide receiver behind step Van Diggs and as.
Speaker 11 (31:54):
The leader of the Drake May Pipe train, I think
this is.
Speaker 14 (31:57):
A great pairing and you can get both of them
as a reserve in your fantasy drafts.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
One quick follow up, not a rookie Davante Adams ten
seconds or left, Mike left?
Speaker 4 (32:06):
Would you draft him this year?
Speaker 11 (32:09):
With Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay.
Speaker 14 (32:11):
Of course, he's going to catch maybe double digit touchdowns
this year.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
That's why we love Floria. Always sys An answery when
he doesn't know that it's coming.
Speaker 15 (32:18):
We know this.
Speaker 4 (32:19):
DeVante Adams is suiting up.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
It is the Rams off season program, wearing that familiar
number seventeen, albeit in a different jersey. He's had a
few of them here in recent years. Let's welcome back
Judy Matissa and Mark Ross. Judy, you've had a column
up about teams off season checklist.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
Let's start right there in LA. What are the Rams accomplished?
What do they still got to do?
Speaker 2 (32:42):
We just showed you one thing they accomplished. They got
Davonte Adams, who, despite a not so great quarterback situation
last year with the New York Jets, was still really productive.
They also kept Matthew Stafford in the fold. And maybe
we may look back with the benefit of hindsight and
realize that picking up that extra first round draft pick
in next year's draft is going to be their best
move because they could be in the market then for
(33:04):
the quarterback of the future, and they're going to have
multiple first rounders to look for that person with. Look,
this was a team that was surging in the second
half of last season.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
Maybe they could use.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
A little offensive line dep but this is a pretty
complete team that was playing really well at the end
of the season. Matthew Stafford looked really good, and Devonte
Adams with Matthew Stafford is probably going to look really
really good, Mark no doubt.
Speaker 12 (33:31):
I don't forget that the Rams gave the Eagles all
they could handle in the snow there in that playoff game,
and a massiveful job by Sean McVeigh and that first
round pick that they acquired to me was just an
outstanding probably the best trade of the draft. And you know,
didn't do a lot in Freezcy. But when you look
at the Rams over the last few years, they completely
crushed those third, fourth, and fifth round picks.
Speaker 11 (33:51):
So right now, you say.
Speaker 12 (33:52):
Well, they they didn't have it first, but I mean
the Pooka Nakuas and Kyra Williams and Kobe Turners and
Byron Youngs of the world that they have drafted over
the last few years. That's the foundation of the team.
And they probably got a couple more this year as well.
Speaker 4 (34:06):
Judy, how about the Texans. You look at their off season.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
Nick Cassaro is always aggressive in turning over multiple positions.
They had a big trade sending their left tackle out.
They've been in on a bunch of other deals here.
How do you feel about where they stand right now?
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Well, the two things that really undermined CJ. Stroud's development
last season. They had a lot of quarter a lot
of injuries to the wide receivers, and the offensive line
just caved in. The offensive line could not protect him
at all. Pretty much every highlight you see from last
season is CJ. Stroud either running for his life or
getting taken to the ground.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
So what did they do this off season?
Speaker 2 (34:42):
Well, they remade the offensive line free agency, they made
a trade, they did some work in the draft, and
they also got some wide receivers, which is particularly important.
We don't know exactly when Tank Dell is going to
be available, and of course Stefan Diggs has moved on
to New England. So those were the two things they
really needed to You're right, Nick Cassario is really good
(35:02):
at this.
Speaker 3 (35:02):
CJ.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Stroud did not have a great sophomore season. He had
a sophomore slump. But now that they have shored up
their two weaknesses, you would think we're going to get
a bounce back performance from c J.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
Stroud this season.
Speaker 12 (35:13):
Mark completely agree. And the expectations were so high for CJ.
Stroud and the Texans and they still want a division
made the playoffs like Doom and gloom, but it was
I think thirty Some other teams would take the year
that they had, but that rebuilt offensive line that you
know that had to happen and lost to that. They
had some young players that they had drafted. The Blake
Fishers who are going to start next year that should
(35:34):
come into his own and signed just about every you
know free agent offensive line they did. And then in
the draft, you know arianta Eser, the gigantic left tackle
from Minnesota. He'll he'll play a prominent role at some point.
And then the Iowa State receivers that they drafted Noel
and Higgins will help as well to offset Stefan Diggs.
(35:54):
So Texans really going in the offseason like, well, what
are they doing? Coming out of it?
Speaker 7 (35:59):
They did a lot.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
Good stuff, Mark Judy stick around. A lot more to
come on this episode of The Insiders, including a deep
dive into the Dolphins off season. They got a big
defensive lineman. I would say they could use.
Speaker 4 (36:14):
A little bit more. Cameron Wolf is down there in
South Florida.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
He will break everything down in advance of rookie Minnie
Camp right after that Sunny Insights.
Speaker 9 (36:24):
Yeah, who is you know what this is?
Speaker 8 (36:28):
Are you sure?
Speaker 9 (36:29):
You said you're ready for the smoke?
Speaker 8 (36:30):
You sure?
Speaker 10 (36:32):
Oh yeah, I'm ready for that heat.
Speaker 13 (36:33):
Man.
Speaker 9 (36:34):
Man, we couldn't be more excited. The congratulations. We are
all so happy. He really made an impression on us.
And it's time to start the next chapter. Congratulations, but
we look forward to seeing it, bro, and you earned it.
Speaker 8 (36:51):
Hey, man, I'm thrill you're coming down here, be waiting
for a Michigan guy.
Speaker 10 (36:56):
Oh yeah, I'm glad I've got a Michigan man.
Speaker 8 (36:59):
You got a whole You've got a lot of friends down,
a lot of Michigan people here. You'll feel right to home. Baby.
We'll take good care of you.
Speaker 1 (37:09):
I've seen a thousand of those draft calls. Mike McDaniel
the first one ever to begin with yo, who dis.
Speaker 4 (37:14):
But it works for him. Only Mike McDaniel can really
pull this off.
Speaker 1 (37:17):
Let's welcome back Cameron Wolf to the show, Judy Batista
and Tom Pelaicero here on the Insiders cam.
Speaker 4 (37:23):
It's been an interesting offseason, I guess, is one way
to put it in Miami. What have the Dolphins been
up to here during the early stages of the offseason program.
Speaker 5 (37:31):
Well, we just saw them talk to their first draft pick,
kind of grant. They're trying to change how this team
is viewed in the physicality upfront. But this past weekend
was all about the speed on the tracks. One of
the coolest events I've seen at the NFL stadium is
the Formula one Miami. This is their fourth year and
that's their starting quarterback. Two at Tsungo Bailoa, who did
a hot lap around the racetrack with Oscar Piastre, the McLaren.
Speaker 6 (37:55):
Driver who won this weekend.
Speaker 5 (37:57):
You see Jaln Phillips, you see Ethan Bonner and other Dolphins.
Speaker 6 (38:01):
They were teaching Charles Mclair, the Ferrari driver.
Speaker 5 (38:03):
How to kick field goals, how to spike balls into
the ground.
Speaker 7 (38:07):
This cool Formula one.
Speaker 5 (38:08):
NFL crossover and the stadium is where it's hosted. The
F one drivers actually have their locker room, their hospitality
tent inside the stadium.
Speaker 6 (38:17):
So it's been cool just to see how this is developed, seeing.
Speaker 5 (38:20):
That stadium transformed into an F one race and it
changes into the Dolphins rookie Minnie Camp which starts this weekend,
and they get a whole new group of guys to
bring in. And we talked about the big defensive lineman
and offensive lineman that really are going to make this
team more physical. I want to talk about two day
three guys, Allie Gordon, the running back and the quarterback.
Quin viewers, where they got in the sixth and the
(38:41):
seventh round, Gordon has a chance to carve out a
role in the running back room. They had the speed
of Devon ah Chan and Jalen Wright, maybe the power
of Gordon, who one scout told me if you watch
his twenty twenty three tape and he's that guy could
end up being one of the steals of this draft.
Speaker 6 (38:57):
A power runner to add, and they need a power run.
And Quinn Ewers.
Speaker 5 (39:01):
Gets a chance to develop behind to Whitsungo, Bay Looa
and Zach Wilson.
Speaker 6 (39:05):
He's a guy who thought he was going to go
in the third or fourth round.
Speaker 5 (39:07):
Kylie taudadat Texas gets the ball out of his hands quickly.
Now he gets a chance to develop there as a
third quarterback, maybe eventually beat the long term back of
the Tuas. So those are two guys I'm watching this
week in a lot.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
Cam Thank you very much, a lot more from you
as this week and this offseason rolls on. Get ready
for the twenty twenty five NFL season like never before.
With the highly anticipated NFL schedule release, every game revealed,
every rivalry, every rematch in every rookie debut. May fourteenth,
(39:40):
that's next Wednesday. Mark your calendar. Get all the details
at nfl dot com slash schedule release. This past Sunday,
the Senior Ball inducted five new members into its Hall
of Fame, Turan Armstead, Gino Atkins, John Gruden, Alex Mack,
and right there in the middle holding the helmet, Richard Sherman,
who made the most of his time in Mobil You
back in twenty eleven.
Speaker 4 (40:01):
Though it was not all smooth sailing.
Speaker 15 (40:05):
I remember I had had this play before the half
because I was just being greedy and trying to make
a play and I jumped, I went for a double move,
and it was late in o'clock, so it was obviously
gonna be a double move, and you you know, you
know this, and you gotta play smarter. But it's all
star game, so you just like, hey, any ops you
can get, you're going for. And I remember coach Marvin
Lewis was our coach for our team, and he gave
(40:27):
me ear full afterwards about how, you know, I was stupid,
play that was dumb and this, YadA YadA YadA, and
I remember I hated him after that. And so we
played them my rookie year, we played the Bengals and
I picked AJ Green off maybe first or second player
of the game, and I threw the ball. That's the
only pick ball I don't have because I threw it
at Marvin. I threw it at Mark. But we had
(40:48):
we had some good conversations since then. We're cool.
Speaker 7 (40:50):
Now you filed that one away that long?
Speaker 15 (40:53):
Yeah, I filed it away. I mean it wasn't that long.
It was a couple of months. It was a couple
of months.
Speaker 1 (40:59):
You can hear me laughing in the background, because that
is just a quintessential Richard Sherman's story right there, Judy.
He didn't even have an invite to the combine. He
told me when he went to the Senior bull It's
why every checkpoint in that pre draft process matters.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
I was just hoping that that tape that we had
there of the interception was going to keep running in
we would actually see him throwing the ball at Marvin Lewis.
What I will say about Marvin Lewis and Richard Sherman,
neither gentleman is shy about expressing their feelings, So I
am not surprised to hear that that exchange took place.
Speaker 1 (41:33):
It was fun seeing those guys because everybody has the
story For Geno Atkins, he was regarded as too small
and he had to show he could stand up against
the big boys. For Alex Mack, it was, hey, I
might need to show some versatility.
Speaker 4 (41:44):
Let me experiment a little bit of guard here.
Speaker 1 (41:46):
John Gruden coached in that game on four different occasions.
Then obviously Richard Sherman, one of the great late round
success stories, a fifth round draft pick by the Seahawks,
now into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame. We're going
to be back, girl, Me and Judy we got your
all off season to see at some time.
Speaker 13 (42:02):
East m m HM
Hosts And Creators
Judy Battista
Tom Pelissero
Ian Rapaport
Mike Garafolo
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