NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Judy Battista deliver the biggest football headlines of the day. To start the show, the Insiders discuss the early tremors of a Lamar Jackson contract extension, before analyzing the actual extension that San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy received this offseason. Then, Cincinnati Bengals OT Orlando Brown Jr. joins the show and fields questions about the Bengals' offseason so far. Later, the Insiders and Brian Baldinger discuss the most improved teams of 2025 -- inspired by Nick Shook's latest article on NFL.com.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Lamar Jackson is back on the field, and so are
the Ravens for this week's mandatory mini camp. Can the
twenty twenty five version do more than just get back
to the playoffs? Hear what they're saying today about big
plans in Baltimore. The Countdown continues to training camp for
teams around the league, and particularly those that still need
(00:29):
to re sign some.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Of their superstars.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
We will tell you whether to be patient or maybe
panic on the state of talks with Michael Parsons and more.
We also to Cincinnati, where they've got drama with their
pass rushers, but not their offense. Orlando Brown Junior, the
big man at left tackle, joins the show tonight to
talk about just how good this star studded Bengals offense
can be. Welcome inside with the inside there's alongside Ian
(00:55):
Rappaport and Judy Battista.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
I am Tom Peliicero.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Twenty nine days away from kickoff to the twenty twenty
five season. How about this for a time staff. By
the way, one month from today, the Chargers practice the
first team on the field for training camp. For now,
we got four teams out there for MIDI camp. Let's
head to East Rutherford. The Giants one of those four
teams back on the field for the only mandatory off
(01:22):
season activities earlier today. Quarterbacks, of course, a big storyline
for that team. Russell Wilson atop the depth chart. Jamis
Winston is there, and Brian Dable continues to sound like
he's a pretty pretty big fan of one.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Jackson dark.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Yeah, he's not excellent, he's picking up the information. He's
you know, it's really good to have Russ and Jamis
and even Tommy because Tommy's been in this system for
a few years here and it's kind of the head
statesman in terms of that and all the adjustments that
take place or the car.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
He's fit right in with those guys. He's smart, he's
aggressive with the football, which I like. And then you know,
the true test will be once we start and there's
live hitting in the preseason games and things like that.
But he's progressed, you know, since he's been here to
where he's not, he's made he's made good improvement. You
can give him a lot, he can he can absorb
a lot, and then he knows kind of what to
weed out and then what to really focus on. The
(02:23):
next day. So he's he's been good. Yeah, I'd say
he's worked with the second team, the first team, and
the third team.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Everybody knows the rules.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
That was a Tommy Devido reference in the first three
minutes of The Insiders drink Ian, let's talk about the
other quarterbacks there with the giants. We know this is
a really interesting room. Jackson darts the guy for the
first time, Joe Shane and Brian Dable identified they picked
their guy, but they also signed Russell Wilson. At every turn,
Dabel has deferred to him as QB one. Where do
(02:51):
we stand now in mini camp and how if it
all potentially? Do you see things changing as we roll
through training camp in the preseason.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
You know, we've seen.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
Brian Dabels poker face plenty. He goes to the podium
in real life, he's a pretty gregarious, fun guy. At
the podium, not so much. He's really close to the best.
Doesn't say very much, but when the topic is Jackson Dart,
Brian Daboll really changes, doesn't really hide, doesn't feel like
hiding how much he thinks of the rookie quarterback that
they drafted this year. I mean, I go back to
(03:21):
the clip right inside the draft room, right before the
Giants were taking Jackson Dart after they made that big
trade up to go get him. Joe Shane looks at
Brian Daball and says, you got your guy, like it
is clear that this is Brian Daball's guy. After years
and years of running out not his guy, he now
gets his guy. So, yes, Russell Wilson is going to
(03:42):
be the starter. Really, there's no surprise there. I expect
Russell Wilson to take the first snap with the first
team in the first game for the Giants. If you
listen to everything Brian Dable says, you get an understanding
of how far along Jackson Dart.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Is and where you think he's going to go.
Speaker 5 (03:57):
It's clearly a matter of when, not if. And I'm
really curious to see how good this Giants team could
be whenever they deemed Jackson Art ready. And you see
Brian Dabos offense with the quarterback he wants, It's going
to really really be fascinating to see, especially if this
offensive line is better than it was last year, which it.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Really should be.
Speaker 6 (04:18):
But let me take you back to when the Giants
signed Russell Wilson. Somebody who knows the Giants well said
to me, desperate teams do desperate things. They were desperate
for a veteran quarterback. They knew at that point they
were almost certainly going to try to draft one that
became Jackson Dark, but they needed a veteran presence to
start the season. The question is how committed they are
(04:41):
going to remain to Russell Wilson as the starting quarterback.
They have said ever since the day they drafted Jackson
Dark that the plan was to have him sit on
the bench and learn. They believe he's got a lot
to learn. But we've been over this before. The Giants
have a very very difficult schedule, especially in the first
half of the season, and so even if Russell Wilson
(05:01):
is playing fine, it's very possible that the Giants are
not winning a lot of games in the first half
of the season. That's really going to test their plan,
because you know, we've seen it over and over again
around the league when teams are struggling, the call always
comes to go with the young guy, see if he
can give the team a spark. So are they going
to stick with their plan to let Jackson Dart sit
(05:24):
on the bench and learn or will they go to him?
At what point in the season will they go to him?
When will they think he's ready? Because there are probably
some jobs in that building that are on the line
this season, and you know they are going to want
to see what they have in Jackson.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Dart, particularly when it's a first round pick. This is
not a second round or a mid round guy. This
is somebody you trade it up to get to go
and get him with a second first round pick, We'll
probably talk more about Jackson Dart than the other guy.
Remember that one they took a number three. People thought
that are they gonna take Shad or Sanders. No, They've
got Neil Carter, one of the best players in the draft.
Another difference on the edge for a team that already
(06:03):
had a couple others. Kevon Thibodeau already calling Abdul Carter
a beast. They made the big trade last year for
Brian Burns as well a lot of fun pieces for
Shane Bowen to play Chesswick through the course of this seasons.
Welcome in are Brian Baldinger. Baldy, I remember everything you
said about Abdul Carter. Going back to the pre draft
process here, what do you think of him with Big
(06:24):
Blue and how do you envision them using all those
different rushers in different ways.
Speaker 7 (06:29):
Well, I'm excited to watch him because.
Speaker 8 (06:31):
He's got elite movement tom and it's not just rushing
the passer. His ability to defeat blocks, to not stay blocked,
get off blocks in the run game, and to go
make plays was evident in three years of Penn State.
But for Shane Bowen, the defensive coort heat of the
second year, he's a big believer in rushing four, he's
out a big blitzkoy get to the quarterback with four
(06:52):
maybe four man twists, maybe some assimilated pressure. But he's
going to join that group of Kavon Thibodeau, Brian Burns.
Speaker 7 (06:59):
And Extra Lawrence, which can be elite.
Speaker 8 (07:02):
And I just think that you know when you watch
him and he'll be on the field every down. He
does have the ability to move around because he did
play two years at the off the ball inside linebacker.
You can line up there if you want to in
certain situations, match them up with certain players in certain situations.
I think they're gonna give him a lot because he's
(07:24):
a natural football player with great movement who loves to
play the game. So I think the more you can
give him, the more exciting he's going to be. But
he's gonna be around some really good players that I
just mentioned. He has a chance to make those players better,
and that's always the sign of a great player.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
First task for Abnuel Carter chasing around Jaden Daniels in
their opener in September. The Ravens meanwhile, open up against
the Bills, one of several tasty weekend opening matchups. They're
out there as well for this week's Minnie Camp. Lamar
Jackson has skipped a lot of the voluntary work through
the spring. In the house this week. Do not exactly
(08:02):
sound eager to talk reporters about a potential contract etcent.
Speaker 9 (08:07):
You know, I never discussed contract situations here, but yeah,
I don't want to talk about it that okay with you.
I don't think I'll get over any loss, to be honest,
I got lost this from youth football. That still hunting me,
you know, so I never get over it.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
I was.
Speaker 9 (08:23):
I don't care how small it may be to someone else,
or how great it might be. It's always the same
for me. It's football everything not gonna go away, man.
You know before it was like, oh, you can't win
a playoff game. You know, we won a playoff game.
We got to the LC Championship two years ago and
we just fell short, like two games short this year.
But we're gonna bounce back and we come back. I
feel like were gonna have venguins on our mind.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Lamar is contextualizing things there, Judy, I think pretty well.
Because this is a Ravens team that's been at the
precipice for several years now. The question always is how
do they take that next step? And it seemed like
based on their offseason, they believe they've already got a
lot of the right pieces in place.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
They had.
Speaker 6 (09:01):
You know, they've had like a quietly really strong offseason.
There's been so much drama with the other teams in
the ANFC North, and so I feel like the Ravens
have sort of flown a little bit under the radar.
But think about what they've done in this off season.
They retained Ronnie Stanley, extended Derrick Henry, drafted Malachi Starts,
(09:21):
signed d Hop. They've done an awful lot of things
to strengthen what was already a very very strong roster.
As you said, this team has been so so close.
They were in the conference championship game one season ago.
Last year they got booted in the divisional round. They
are just looking for a way to take the next step,
but they have been so close there consistently in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
This is a.
Speaker 6 (09:46):
Consistent super Bowl team as long as Lamar Jackson is healthy.
That's another thing they did this offseason, Cooper Rush. They
got a strong backup quarterback in case Lamar gets hurt.
But this is a team that as long as Lamar
Jackson is healthy and on the field, will be in
the mix. Certainly will be in the mix in the
AFC North, and should be in the mix in the AFC.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
And you look at that screen of the players they've signed.
Bringing back Ronnie Stanley a couple of days or maybe
a day whenever it was before free agency has to
be one of the best moves of the entire offseason
because if you want Lamar Jackson to be himself, if
you wanted to be comfortable back there and make the
plays he always has, it.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Helps to have a really, really good left tackle.
Speaker 5 (10:26):
That was key getting that contract done. The other thing
I would say keeping Mark Andrews there, We'll see what happens,
and there's still trade interest from some teams. Ravens have
not been keeping Mark Andrews there no doubt paramount. You
listen to Lamar Jackson earlier today, give a vote of
confidence for Mark Andrews. You understand how valuable he is.
(10:46):
But this team is not exactly done doing business. Mar
Jackson didn't want to talk about his contract. That is fine,
I will talk about it. The team has had discussions
with Lamar and his representation, which is himself, about a
potential new deal. Will be interested to see if in
fact he ends up as the highest paid quarterback in
the NFL, if he eclipses Dak Prescott or not. He's
got a huge cap numbers for doing the new deal
(11:08):
can benefit the Ravens as well. Another playoff for a
new deal Isaiah Likely. I know the Ravens really see
him as the future of the tight end position, even
if they still see Mark Andrews with a big role
this year. How they handle the Isaiah Likely situation. Are
they able to lock him up at some point before
the season, we really really interesting to tell.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
For Baltimore as well.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
I'm pretty sure that was Lamar the player. No commenting
at the podium because Lamar the agent might have wanted
to go up there and just remind everybody here remember
how good this Ravens offense is. With Lamar my client
of me, Lamar the agent. Look at the Raykings that
they had last year. This was one of the best
offenses in virtually every single category that you could possibly
(11:51):
think of here, and they did it in different ways,
creating big plays not just in the past game, but
in the running game as well. As you bring in
Brian Baldinger here, this is not bringing in DeAndre Hopkins
of five years ago. There have been some injury issues
that he's dealt with. He's getting to be an older player.
But this is part of what Eric de Costa has
done here, is trying to mix and match those young
(12:11):
playmakers with some veterans. They always seem to make some additions.
As you look at this Ravens offense, what's the upside?
Where can they get better in twenty twenty five?
Speaker 7 (12:19):
Well, Lamar, I.
Speaker 8 (12:20):
Mean maybe because Tom he didn't win his third MVP.
Maybe we don't think of Lamar as the elite player
that he is. Get one of the great seasons for
a quarterback of all time. Last year, I mean, he
threw forty one touchdowns in foreign receptions, he led the
league in yards per ten, he led the league in
touchdown percentage per throw. He had the highest quarterback rating
(12:42):
by a long shot at one hundred and nine, fourth
highest in NFL history, and he ran for nine hundred
and seventy five yards. You know, you talk about Nuke
and some of the guys they brought in. He makes
everybody around him better. In fact, when you watch some
week in week out, he is indefensible at this point, and.
Speaker 7 (12:59):
So you say, okay, what else can you do well?
Speaker 8 (13:01):
He just finished his second season with offensive coordinator Todd Munkin.
It's clear that Todd and Lamar have a great relationship.
They see the game, they see the plays very similar
to each other. And then just to playmak the ability
that Lamar has, no matter what you try to do
to him, he puts you in a kerfuffle play in
play out, third downs, red zone because of his ability
(13:24):
to see the whole field and to be able to
just stay there in the pocket now and not have
to take off, but just trust his protection, move what
he has to to make a play, and so I
expect him to continue to improve because I think the
players around him are good. They've added some pieces on
the offensive line that might make them better.
Speaker 7 (13:43):
Derek Hennery is going to be lining up right next
to him or right behind him. That's not going to change.
Speaker 8 (13:48):
This should still be an elite offense and Lamar will
be in contention for his third MVP.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
And Baldi.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
We could break down all the various reasons of getting
over the proverbial hump by the Ravens haven't gotten there.
Maybe the biggest one the continued existence of the Kansas
City Chiefs because three years in a row.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
They've been there.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Throughout the Rotrick Mahomes era, they've been in the AFC
Championship Game every season against what if you thought Mahomes
might finally start to fall off, here's him completing a
crazy side arm pass to Juju Smith Schuster earlier today.
The way last season, though, still stings for the likes
of Chris Jones, I think.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
You used a lot of things as a motivation, especially
this past season, But you know the biggest motivation, you know,
making it to the big.
Speaker 7 (14:33):
Game, losing only losing losing the way we did.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
I think it's a lot a lot of people in
the build and feel like we could have done better.
We feel like we're better and you know, Soice get
him back to the mountain top now, all right.
Speaker 6 (14:52):
Well, obviously, in a big reason for that Super Bowl
loss that Chris Jones was talking about was the offensive line.
It was an issue for the Chiefs really all of
last season. They sought to remedy that with their first
round draft pick, Josh Simmons. He sort of fell to
them late in the first round, coming off a big
injury that he suffered at the end of his college career.
Where do things stand with him?
Speaker 5 (15:14):
Well, to me, they stand in a really really good place.
What the Kannas City Chiefs did was not just draft
Simmons in the first round and you're right, fell to them,
And this is someone I think they really secretly had
their eyes on the entire time. They were really happy
with where he was medically coming back from that torn
pintel attendant. Not all teams were sure about this one.
Chiefs were really happy with where he was. I think
(15:34):
tried to keep it quiet because this is the player
they wanted, just because he's such an unbelievably talented tackle
despite the injury, but they also don't want to rush them,
so they're giving him some time off during the spring.
They're making sure he has days to rehab and rehabilitate.
They also signed Jalen Moore to come in and be
their left tackle until whenever, basically until Simmons is ready,
(15:55):
or maybe the entire year, or maybe Simmons starts out
as the swing tackle. Most important thing for the Chiefs
is they have talent there and they have depth there
to not be caught short at one of the most
important positions on the football field. And seeing the resources
that they use to address this really underscores how important
and essential they believe a good left tackle is.
Speaker 6 (16:19):
They have done an awful lot of work on that
offensive line. As a matter of fact, they could have
three position battles going into the summer. Here are some
big losses, notable losses, big names. Maybe the big one
that stands out to me most is guard Joe Toney.
Joe Toooney at the end of last season was playing
left tackle. The Chiefs had to use four different players
(16:41):
at left tackle last year. That goes again to the
instability of the offensive line let's bring our buddy Baldy
back again.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Baldy.
Speaker 6 (16:48):
They could have as many as three position battles going
into training camp, but really only two starters locked in
on the offensive line. How important is it for that
offensive line to gel? Not just for this take the
offensive line, but obviously for Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 7 (17:02):
Well, it's critical, Judy. For Patrick, I mean thinking about it.
Speaker 8 (17:05):
You know, he's throwing fifty touchdown passes in a season
in his career early in his career.
Speaker 7 (17:10):
He threw twenty six last year.
Speaker 8 (17:13):
His yards for a tenth last year were the lowest
in his career, at six point eight yards pertend. At
one point he was thrown at eight point eight yards
per tend. What that says, without getting crazy about stats,
he can't hold the ball long enough to get the
ball down the field. They missed the explosive plays. It
happened in the Super Bowl third down. They couldn't convert
on third down. They couldn't stop that pass rush of
the Eagles, and they never blitzed one time. And they
(17:35):
still couldn't hold the ball and protect well enough. So
the band aid of Joe Toney got him to the
Super Bowl last year, but they had to rip it off,
and for the third year in the row, they drafted
a left tackle high in the draft. Maybe Josh Simmons
can be that guy protecting the backside of Mahomes where
he feels comfortable to be able to hold the ball
long enough to be able to push it down the
(17:56):
field to some of his targets. I think that's the
biggest thing right now offense is can they get the
big play back on any kind of a regular basis
because of the guys up front that can hold off
the pass rush coming after Mahomes.
Speaker 6 (18:12):
I think to put this in context, Patrick Mahomes was
sacked thirty six times last season. That was the most
in his career by quite a few Baldi, Thank you
very much.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Tom.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Physically, I'm here hosting this show, but in my mind
I'm with the Rams in Maui right now.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Where else would you really want to be?
Speaker 1 (18:33):
We will check it on the Hawaii Rams coming up
after this. The list on Kien Williams and the possibility
of a Glan Ramsey trade. Also circle back on the
Bengals mini camp.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Orlando Brown Junior is going to be here.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
Nobody knows that team better than their left tackle. Always
a fun interview. Lots more to come on The Insiders.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
Man to be Matthew Stafford hanging out in Hawaii doing
a little practice at a very very professional looking field
where the focus is one hundred percent on football, not
on getting Giovanni shrimp truck, which maybe is the best
lunch I've ever.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Had in my life.
Speaker 5 (19:17):
Anyway, a lot of great things happening with the Rams.
Listen to Sean McVay talk about the Hawaiian vacation or
mini camp.
Speaker 10 (19:24):
The thing is, because Jalen is the caliber player that
he is, he's earned the right to be where he's at.
Usually those are scenarios and situations that you have to
have plans in place prior to executing some of the
decisions that have occurred. So definitely don't want to rule
anything out because we're always open minded to onboarding and
acquiring you know, quality players and people like him if
(19:46):
we're able to do that, But there would be, you know,
some some obstacles that are real that are in the
place of maybe preventing that from a current.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Of Juda Batista.
Speaker 5 (19:56):
As you listen to Sean mvay talk about trying to
acquire quality players while wearing sunglasses in Hawaii. Again, this
is a very serious football thing that's happening there. They're
not just there to surf, They're there to to do
football things in a very serious manner. One of the
players they acquired this past March, a very quality player,
(20:17):
was DeVante Adams, who has really embraced being a Ram
and this sort of rebirth. What kind of impact do
we expect him to have on this team.
Speaker 6 (20:27):
Well, he has embraced it. And it takes me to
that picture of Sean McVay and Maui. Dvante Adams used
the word vibe and aura talking about his experience so
far with the Rams. He has fit in really well.
Of course, this is one of the signature acquisitions of
the offseason. He's brought in there to replace Cooper Kuppe,
to pair with Phuka Nakua. And you may say, all right, well,
(20:50):
Davante Adams is nearing the you know, the back end
of his career here, Okay, But under ridiculous circumstances last
season he was traded in the middle of the season
to a Jets team that was headed for a complete rebuild.
He still had one thousand yards receiving fifth season in a.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Row like that.
Speaker 6 (21:07):
He still had eight receiving touchdowns. So Devonte Adams was
still performing at a very high level under really challenging circumstances.
I would say, so, Imagine what he can do. Imagine
how good he must feel with the Rams. With an
established veteran quarterback like Matthew Stafford and a coach in
Sean McVay who is focused on getting the very best
(21:30):
for Matthew Stafford, this is a great situation for Devontae
Adams and a pretty good situation for Matthew Stafford too.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Yeah, I would say so.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
Obviously, the big addition on offense, you really do wonder
wonder if the Rams are going to have a similarly
big addition on defense. The Jalen Ramsey trade, the prospect
of a reunion with the Miami Dolphins corner who. I
think it's safe to say both of the sides, Dolphins
and Ramsey would more than welcome a split, more than
welcome a new home for Ramsey.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
The Rams make these.
Speaker 5 (22:00):
They have not been able to figure out a deal
just yet. It's complicated. Twenty one million dollars for Jill
and Ramsey. Do the Dolphins eat some of that money
to trade them. If they do, how does that affect
the draft pick compensation. There's really a lot there, but
the fact that the Rams have not ruled it out,
the Dolphins have not ruled it out. Certainly, Ramsey has
not ruled out a reunion with a team that he
(22:20):
likes so much, with people that he liked to deal
with so much. It certainly is something that we will
be watching. We will keep watching until this trade maybe
sort of eventually happens before training campers some point. It
is absolutely going to be a topic of discussion. Good stuff,
Judy hanging there. We will get back to you, obviously,
very surely. Let's turn our attention to the San Francisco
(22:43):
forty nine ers and Brock Purty. No, we don't have
to talk about a new contract for Brock party. We
already did that with plenty of time to go in
the off season. John Lynch is down managers of forty
nine ers, handled most financial things, in fact, all financial things.
Listen to Lynch discuss their outlook for this offseason.
Speaker 11 (23:03):
Which all signaled something that we knew a plan of ours,
which was we had to get younger, and we had
to get a little cheaper because we had some plans
on what we wanted to do with our core and
our obviously our quarterback, and so I think, you know,
some twists and turns, but we executed a plan that
we needed.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
To Tom Pella, Sarah, Brian Baldinger back here on the Insiders, Baldi,
we talked so much about the offensive changes for the
forty nine ers in this offseason, moving on from Deebo
Samuel Christian McCaffrey being back and by all accounts looking healthy.
But this's become an annual right of passage. A different
defensive coordinator. They've had these changes every year. What do
(23:44):
you make of Robert Sla being back there and the
impact that can have across the entire day.
Speaker 8 (23:49):
A couple of things, Tom Robin sALS now their fourth
defensive coordinator in the last four years, in four since
Robert Sala left to be the head coach of the Jets.
He is a front four dominant defensive coach. He wants
to get home and disrupt quarterbacks with the front four.
Speaker 7 (24:05):
Well, John Lynch, they had to get younger.
Speaker 8 (24:08):
They kept bringing in veteran retreads on the defensive front.
They just did not produce and so last year was
not a good year for this defense. And so I
saw John Lynch at the Senior Bowl this year with
a very deep draft and defensive lineman. They went out
and spent the first pick on Mike kel Williams, second
pick Alfred Collins, fourth pick CJ. West, they went and
(24:29):
traded for Bryce Hup. They have rejuvenated that defensive front
and if the defense is going to take a turnaround
from a year ago where they didn't take the ball
away enough, they didn't get off the field, especially the
last three weeks of the season with Nick Bosa on
the shelf injured, that was not a good looking defense.
Speaker 7 (24:47):
But maybe with.
Speaker 8 (24:47):
This front four should be young, should be rejuvenated right now,
relying on youth and get Nick Bosa back fully healthy.
I think it could be the start of turning things
around and the start of putting youth back into this defense.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
Forty nine ers want to get more out of that defense.
For everybody else, you can get more of the NFL
with NFL Plus.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Stay connected throughout the offseason with twenty four to seven
football news and coverage on NFL Network and with NFL
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Speaker 2 (25:19):
Or relive your favorite moments.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
From the twenty twenty four season with game replays and
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The countdown is onto training camps, including in Cincinnati, where
the Bengals will kick things off of their first practice
(25:40):
on July twenty third. That is just thirty six days away.
But I bet that if there's one guy who's already
ready to go, it's our next guest. Four time Pro
Bowl tackle Orlando Brown Junior is with us here on
the Insiders with me, Tom Pelicero and Brian Baldinger. Orlando,
I know you always stay ready. What are you up
to it right now?
Speaker 2 (26:00):
How was life for you?
Speaker 7 (26:02):
Man?
Speaker 12 (26:02):
Life's been really good. I'm just here in Cincinnati. Honestly,
I don't really leave here, you know. For me, it's
more about the mental to aspect the things, being able
to stay in it, continue to I guess, stay in
that state of mind. You know, I think a lot
of times before you know, getting away, I might get
my mind away from it too much. And for me,
I think I found something good for me in my
(26:23):
career being here full time.
Speaker 8 (26:25):
One of those things you did last year, Zeus that
you told me about was you got in the pool,
you were swimming, You're doing laps, you know, like, were
you swimming this year if you found something else to
like occupy your time to build your body, to shape
it the way you want to.
Speaker 7 (26:40):
Get ready for the season.
Speaker 12 (26:42):
Yeah, yeah, No, in the summers, I'll still be in
the pool. I'll still be swimming. For me, I do
a lot of boxing between February, March and April pretty
much before we.
Speaker 7 (26:51):
Go into that OTA phase.
Speaker 12 (26:53):
But yeah, I'll be swimming, man, I'll be refinding my
past set all of those different things, riding my bike,
a big bike rider during this time of year. So
I'll still be in that pool.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
From the offensive perspective here Orlando, and you've gotten a
feel for now through OTAs and through Mini camp. It's
a lot of familiar faces. It's the key playmakers. Obviously
Joe back. He's healthy right now, which is huge. You
guys got the deal done with Jamar Chase, You got
t Higgins back. What do you think you have in
Cincinnati on that side of the ball, man, I.
Speaker 7 (27:24):
Mean we're really special, you know. I'm really proud of
the way.
Speaker 12 (27:26):
That we worked this offseason, just with the intent and
focused from us as individuals, as players, everything that the
coaches threw at us, we were able to respond really well.
Speaker 7 (27:37):
And I mean, I'm excited, man.
Speaker 12 (27:38):
I mean, I think at the end of the day,
you know, paying Tea and Jamar making them more comfortable
knowing that they're going to be able to go out
there and sell out even more than they have in
the pass.
Speaker 7 (27:49):
I think it's only going to make us better.
Speaker 8 (27:50):
To be honest, sous, last year, you won your last
five games in a row to get to nine wins,
including Week eighteen to beating this deals. Do you feel
like is there any carry over when you finish the
season like that, even though you come up.
Speaker 7 (28:06):
Short of the playoffs?
Speaker 8 (28:08):
Is there a carryover to how you finish the season
going into the offseason.
Speaker 12 (28:12):
Yeah, you know, that's a good question, I would say
for us, I think the focus has been more on
this year as opposed to last year in previous years,
because there's there's so many areas that we want to
take a take the next step in now, you know,
I think at the end of the day.
Speaker 7 (28:28):
We know who we are, we know what our DNA.
Speaker 12 (28:30):
Is, especially as a team and as an offense. Uh,
you know, so we have a ton of confidence in that.
But man, I mean, I wouldn't say that to me.
I don't think it's necessarily going to be a ton
of carryover, although you know you think it would be.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Now.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
You guys always it seems Orlando have some type of
off season drama, right contract wise. Last year it was
Jumar and he was on and off the field. This
time around, and you got Trey Hendrickson who wants new
contracts make clear he's not playing on his existing deal.
And your first pick, Samar Stewart, it's been in the building,
but he hasn't actually practiced. Just give me a sense
of how the locker room is looking at these issues
(29:08):
and what level of confidence of venue you have what
it's time to play the real games.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
These guys are out there.
Speaker 12 (29:13):
Yeah, no, man, I'm very confident that they'll be out there.
I imagine in trade situation they'll get that figured out.
Speaker 8 (29:20):
Man.
Speaker 12 (29:20):
He's one of the best in the league at what
he does, you know, And I think in Schamar's case,
I imagine they'll get that done to coming to terms on
whatever the language or specific amount.
Speaker 7 (29:32):
Of money it is.
Speaker 12 (29:32):
Man, these are two very important players for us one
being an All Pro defensive player to your candidate, man,
and I imagine the team is going to take care
of business.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
Judu.
Speaker 7 (29:43):
I know you feel blessed on a daily basis, but you.
Speaker 8 (29:45):
Know, from the standpoint of you leave Oklahoma and you
were working with Baker Mayfield protecting him, you get drafted
by the Baltimore Ravens, or protecting the Super Bowl MVP
Joe Flacco, Lamar takes over.
Speaker 7 (29:59):
You work with Lamar Like the hell with right tackle.
I'm a left tackle.
Speaker 8 (30:02):
I go to Kansas City and protect Patrick Mahomes winning
Super Bowl, and then you know what, it's time to
get paid.
Speaker 7 (30:07):
Let me go to Cincinnati protect Joe Burrow.
Speaker 8 (30:10):
Like you get the sense that, like you're in left
tackle heaven right now working with some of the guys
you've worked with over the last seven eight years.
Speaker 7 (30:19):
I am, man, I am.
Speaker 12 (30:20):
I've been very, very fortunately, very blessed to suit up
with some.
Speaker 7 (30:25):
Of these men.
Speaker 12 (30:26):
I mean, these are some of the best quarterbacks of
my current generational football man that a lot of kids
look up to, that a lot of our peers look
up to. And you know, I think, man, it's just
so cool to be able to me having met each
one of them at different career points in life or
different points of life, you know, being with Lamar as
a rookie before he wins his first MVP, being there
(30:48):
for Pat's second MVP, being here Joe don't have it yet,
but it's coming Joe's first MVP, and the transition in
the points of where they are in their career is
what makes it so cool and special to me.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Orlando.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
I remember being at your very first rookie mini camp practice.
I was there for Lamar Jackson because he was a
first drum peck, but really I was there to see you,
and I can remember very clearly. You're at the podium,
You're this huge dude, you got your headband tied on,
You're in like the skin tight team gear. Was your
first time being out there, but you projected this kind
of maturity that you don't often see from rookies. I'm
wondering now, seven years later, what advice if any twenty
(31:24):
nine year old Orlando Brown Junior would be giving to
that guy back in twenty eighteen.
Speaker 12 (31:29):
Yeah, you know, I think, just like anybody else man
in this professor controlling what you can control.
Speaker 7 (31:35):
You know, it's something I would have told myself even more.
Speaker 12 (31:38):
You know, I don't necessarily have any regrets how things
have gone, but I do think that there are areas
I could have been better in just in terms of
nutrition and taking care of my body, things that would
have even put me on a higher trajectory. And you know,
if I could go back at time, I would tell
myself the control what you can control.
Speaker 7 (31:57):
Zeus.
Speaker 8 (31:58):
There's very few people at I've ever met that are
bigger than you. Until you introduced me to last year's
number one pick a Marius MEM's and I'm like, Yeah,
there's a guy bigger than Jews.
Speaker 7 (32:08):
What can we expect here year two for a marriage?
Speaker 8 (32:11):
Because he does he can't block out the sun. He
is a human eclipse, and so I'm just curious, second year,
what can we expect here from the young guy?
Speaker 12 (32:21):
Yeah, high expectations, man, That's why we took him in
the first round last year. You know, I think at
the end of the day, Mims has been working his
tail off to get better, and to me, I think
that's everything.
Speaker 7 (32:32):
You know, he's got the right mindset. He's had the
right mindset.
Speaker 12 (32:35):
From day one since he came into building, and he's
done done all the little things and done everything right. So, man,
he's got huge expectations for herself. No better than anybody else.
But I mean, I would tell you he's been putting
the work in man, and you know, I'm really looking
forward to seeing what he puts on tape.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
So come July twenty third, obviously you're gonna be laser
locked on getting this thing rolling in training camp. And
I know you do a lot of stuff off the field,
especially during times like this. Tell me about out the
Juneteenth Jubilee that's coming up here on Thursday.
Speaker 7 (33:04):
Yeah, so it's actually my second year doing this.
Speaker 8 (33:06):
Man.
Speaker 12 (33:06):
I hosted with the Freedom Center in downtown Cincinnati at
the Banks. Man, they do such a great job giving
us all the space and support that we need.
Speaker 7 (33:16):
It will be a ton of people there as well.
Speaker 12 (33:17):
But just celebrating Juneteenth, sharing the love with the city
was something that me and my family celebrated a ton.
Speaker 7 (33:24):
You know, my dad's parents being from mccormerck County.
Speaker 12 (33:28):
South Carolina, Plumber and South Carolina, really small town, small county,
and you know, it's just something we always grew up celebrating.
So just want to give back and educate people and
get together.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
That's awesome, man, real quick too. Before we let you go,
you mentioned the swimming that you do in the off season.
Baldy is the guy who loves to post every scuba
diving video. He's swimming with sharks. You two in the pool,
two laps. Who's winning Orlandoh.
Speaker 7 (33:53):
Man, I'm not gonna lie to you. I'm getting out
of there, Baldy, I'm getting out of there. Yeah, tell
you Zuos.
Speaker 8 (34:01):
You might get me like off the start, but I
got a great flip turn when we hit that wall.
Speaker 7 (34:05):
I'm coming.
Speaker 8 (34:06):
I'm already coming back, bro. So I'm gonna keep showing
a flip turn for sure.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
We're getting that video for tomorrow's show.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
Orlando, thank you very much for being here, man, Best luck.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
We'll see in Cincinnati in a few.
Speaker 7 (34:19):
Weeks here of course, thank you, guys.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
AFC North one of the most fascinating divisions in football,
not just because of the Bengals, but because that guy
is now in it. Aaron Rodgers just showed up a
week or so, go Honkin search. Would Pittsburgh fans be
about the late arrival? Judy Batista's thoughts on that and
the impact of other big off season storylines coming up
after this on the Incentives.
Speaker 5 (34:50):
Pittsburgh Steelers do not have practiced this week, but that's okay.
They start practicing again July twenty fourth, Latrophy and that
guy right there, Aaron Rodgers, will be on the field.
The mystery is over. Rogers is on the Steelers. We
spent an entire offseason talking about it. Now it is
here and it is real, and let's bring back in
(35:13):
Judy Batista to talk about your article on NFL dot
com once again.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
Tell me what to think. So this is.
Speaker 5 (35:20):
Where we will start off, Judi, what storylines may be
involving the Steelers. I don't know, just a little foreshadowing.
Should I not overreact to from the spring?
Speaker 6 (35:31):
Should not overreact to Aaron Rodgers' late arrival with the
Pittsburgh Steelers, because it really wasn't all that late, even
though we spent weeks, weeks and weeks wondering when he
was finally going to show up. Don't forget for the
Jets last year, he wasn't at Mini caamp either, and
he's still managed to throw for almost four thousand yards
and twenty eight touchdowns on a team that was headed
(35:53):
for a complete overhaul. So missing Mini caamp did not
appear to be a big problem last season.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
For Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 6 (36:01):
The good news for the Pittsburgh Steelers is he is
another year removed from the achilles injury. In the second
half of the season last year for the Jets, he
certainly looked a lot better than he did in the
first half. He was healthier at that point. The other
good news is that even though he hadn't signed on
the dotted line, Aaron Rodgers had been in contact with
Mike Tomlin all along, had been throwing with DK Metcalf
(36:22):
all along. Now he gets to dig into the playbook
and he can get to official practices at training camp.
But everybody should relax about his late arrival. The other
thing you don't have to worry about is in Houston,
c J. Stroud did not throw for much of the
off season. They said general soreness. He did throw a
little bit though in Mini caamp, and that was really
(36:43):
good news. He did not have a documented shoulder injury
last season, but Demiko Ryans, when he was asked about it,
would not answer the question of well, is it possible
that he needs surgery? And that's sent up all of
these red flags wasn't necessary.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
He was fine.
Speaker 6 (36:57):
He did throw in mini camp as I said a
little bit. He said he's fine. He sort of laughed
and said, you guys don't have enough things to report on.
That's why this blew up as a story. He might
be right, good media analysis by C. J. Strout, He
does not. He says, we don't need to worry about it.
Speaker 7 (37:13):
I believe him.
Speaker 6 (37:14):
Don't worry about it.
Speaker 5 (37:16):
As our friend Andrew Marshawn says, everyone wants to cover
sports media, including Demiko Ryans. Okay, so now I know
what not to overreact to. Why don't you coach mail
a little bit and tell me what needs more attention.
Speaker 6 (37:29):
I don't really know how much more attention we can
give this topic, but all of the past rushers who
are waiting for contracts deserve the attention that we are
giving it and that we are going to continue to
give it for the rest of the summer until they
get done. Certainly, the Micah Parsons contract is the headliner here.
Speaker 2 (37:46):
We're all waiting.
Speaker 6 (37:47):
We know that historically the Dallas Cowboys are quite comfortable
letting these contract situations go all the way to the
last minute. Just think about Pak Prescott last year as
we were getting ready for kickoff in Week one. So
we will see what happens with Michael Parsons, but of
course there are others TJ.
Speaker 2 (38:02):
Watt.
Speaker 6 (38:02):
They sound pretty confident in Pittsburgh that that one is
going to get done. And then we were just talking
to Orlando Brown about the situation in Cincinnati with both
Trey Hendrickson and the rookie Schmore Stewart. Very unusual situation, especially.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
With the rookie.
Speaker 6 (38:18):
He was there and then he left mandatory mini camp
without a contract. Trey Hendrickson has said he will not
play on his current contract. They've got a lot to
clean up in Cincinnati in the next few weeks.
Speaker 5 (38:31):
Great stuff as always, Judy NFL dot Com slash Batista
for more mental coaching by our good friend Beauty.
Speaker 1 (38:42):
The new look Jets held their mandatory mini camp last week,
a lot of new faces. Nick Schuk with the NFL
dot Com has the Jets among his most improved teams
heading into twenty twenty five. To welcome you back to
the insiders, Tom Pilisero and Brian Baldier. Baldy will set
aside Nick Shook's rankings for a second hear you tell me,
(39:04):
who do you think are some of the most improved
teams heading into the season.
Speaker 8 (39:08):
Well, I read the charticle. I mean, I do agree
that Chicago Bears are going to be better. It's one
of Nick's teams that you know. I mean, Caleb Williams
was sacked sixty eight times last year. Just cut that
in half right now to improved offense line and Ben
Johnson coaching. But I was in Tampa a couple weeks ago,
Tom maybe two weeks ago for OTAs. I was around
that team. I mean, they won ten games last year,
won the division for the fourth year in a row.
(39:32):
They're gonna be projected to win it again. But I
think they're gonna be even better this year. I mean,
I think they've improved the secondary with the incoming Benjamin Morrison,
Jacob Parris and the secondary. I think Emica Buka is
really going to help in the passing game to go
with the Jaalen Villin, Mike Evans, while Chris Godwin men's
(39:52):
I think, and they returned the whole five offensive line.
Speaker 7 (39:55):
I mean, I think Camp is gonna be improved, but
I also.
Speaker 8 (39:57):
Think Arizona is gonna be greatly Remember now, Arizona won
eight games last year, all right, they were eight and
nine to finish the season. But defensively, I don't know
that anybody has addressed the defensive line outside linebacker position
like they have, including you know, bring in Kalayas Campbell,
drafting Walter Nolan junior. You know, they just got Dalvin
(40:21):
Thomlinson a defensive tackle right now, Baron Browning from Denver,
Darius Robinson comes back healthy in his second year, last
year's number one draft pick. I think so much better
upfront than you add Will Johnson to the secondary right
now to go with what they have, you know, I
just think that this is going to be a vastly
improved team and a very competitive envision. I don't know
(40:43):
how many wins Arizona's gonna have, but I know defensively
they're going to be a lot better and will effect
the quarterbacks a lot better than they did a year ago.
Speaker 1 (40:54):
Also notable that was such a young coaching staff when
they got hired a couple of years ago Baldi Cardinals
and this season, I believe the only team with their
offensive and defensive coordinators intact for three consecutive years. Balie
will see you again soon. You know what you don't
have to wait for though, NFL tickets. That's right, the
waight is over. Countown to Kickoff has begun. Single game
(41:16):
tickets for the twenty twenty five NFL season are on
sale now.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
Who's at NFL dot com.
Speaker 1 (41:21):
Slash tickets to purchase tickets today. Tickets are available through
the NFL ticket network, including Ticketmasters, seint Geek, and Sports
Illustrated Tickets. Tappy National Mascot Day, which apparently I just
found out is a real thing. Great time to celebrate
all those great NFL mascots and also a big day
(41:42):
for big news in the big furry soup world. Dan Mears,
the franchise's original kse Wolf, has announced his retirement after
thirty five years as the team's director of Shenanigan's. The search,
according to the chiefs, for the next case Wolf, is underway,
with top candidates having already completed interviews with the club.
(42:03):
Shut it aside because we don't have time on figuring
out how one becomes a top candidate to put on
a wolf costume and thrust their hips on Sundays. Judy,
I'm curious if you were doing the hiring here what
to you matters most in a good mascot.
Speaker 6 (42:18):
I gotta be honest. With all due respect to the
NFL mascots, I prefer the college teams that bring live
animals onto the sideline as their mascots. Remember the year
that the Longhorn went after the bulldog at the National
Championship Game.
Speaker 7 (42:30):
Yes, I love those mascots.
Speaker 2 (42:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (42:34):
So when I covered Alabama for the Vernian News, there
was always a rumor that there would be a live
elephant in Bryan Denny Stadium. It would go around the
message board, it would pick up steam and someone have
to say this is fake.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
One day it'll be.
Speaker 5 (42:47):
Real and there'll be an elephant on the field at Alabama.
God willing Tom.
Speaker 1 (42:53):
He just has always looked like a dranged Chuck e Cheese.
Dan Meuhir is doing great work there here. I just
like the mascots can celebrate in ways that if players did,
it would yield a flag pulsin tomorrow souven Eastern later
Lamar Jackson is back on the field, and so are
the Ravens for this week's mandatory mini camp. Can the
twenty twenty five version do more than just get back
to the playoffs? Hear what they're saying today about big
plans in Baltimore. The Countdown continues to training camp for
teams around the league, and particularly those that still need
(00:29):
to re sign some.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Of their superstars.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
We will tell you whether to be patient or maybe
panic on the state of talks with Michael Parsons and more.
We also to Cincinnati, where they've got drama with their
pass rushers, but not their offense. Orlando Brown Junior, the
big man at left tackle, joins the show tonight to
talk about just how good this star studded Bengals offense
can be. Welcome inside with the inside there's alongside Ian
(00:55):
Rappaport and Judy Battista.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
I am Tom Peliicero.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Twenty nine days away from kickoff to the twenty twenty
five season. How about this for a time staff. By
the way, one month from today, the Chargers practice the
first team on the field for training camp. For now,
we got four teams out there for MIDI camp. Let's
head to East Rutherford. The Giants one of those four
teams back on the field for the only mandatory off
(01:22):
season activities earlier today. Quarterbacks, of course, a big storyline
for that team. Russell Wilson atop the depth chart. Jamis
Winston is there, and Brian Dable continues to sound like
he's a pretty pretty big fan of one.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Jackson dark.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Yeah, he's not excellent, he's picking up the information. He's
you know, it's really good to have Russ and Jamis
and even Tommy because Tommy's been in this system for
a few years here and it's kind of the head
statesman in terms of that and all the adjustments that
take place or the car.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
He's fit right in with those guys. He's smart, he's
aggressive with the football, which I like. And then you know,
the true test will be once we start and there's
live hitting in the preseason games and things like that.
But he's progressed, you know, since he's been here to
where he's not, he's made he's made good improvement. You
can give him a lot, he can he can absorb
a lot, and then he knows kind of what to
weed out and then what to really focus on. The
(02:23):
next day. So he's he's been good. Yeah, I'd say
he's worked with the second team, the first team, and
the third team.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Everybody knows the rules.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
That was a Tommy Devido reference in the first three
minutes of The Insiders drink Ian, let's talk about the
other quarterbacks there with the giants. We know this is
a really interesting room. Jackson darts the guy for the
first time, Joe Shane and Brian Dable identified they picked
their guy, but they also signed Russell Wilson. At every turn,
Dabel has deferred to him as QB one. Where do
(02:51):
we stand now in mini camp and how if it
all potentially? Do you see things changing as we roll
through training camp in the preseason.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
You know, we've seen.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
Brian Dabels poker face plenty. He goes to the podium
in real life, he's a pretty gregarious, fun guy. At
the podium, not so much. He's really close to the best.
Doesn't say very much, but when the topic is Jackson Dart,
Brian Daboll really changes, doesn't really hide, doesn't feel like
hiding how much he thinks of the rookie quarterback that
they drafted this year. I mean, I go back to
(03:21):
the clip right inside the draft room, right before the
Giants were taking Jackson Dart after they made that big
trade up to go get him. Joe Shane looks at
Brian Daball and says, you got your guy, like it
is clear that this is Brian Daball's guy. After years
and years of running out not his guy, he now
gets his guy. So, yes, Russell Wilson is going to
(03:42):
be the starter. Really, there's no surprise there. I expect
Russell Wilson to take the first snap with the first
team in the first game for the Giants. If you
listen to everything Brian Dable says, you get an understanding
of how far along Jackson Dart.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Is and where you think he's going to go.
Speaker 5 (03:57):
It's clearly a matter of when, not if. And I'm
really curious to see how good this Giants team could
be whenever they deemed Jackson Art ready. And you see
Brian Dabos offense with the quarterback he wants, It's going
to really really be fascinating to see, especially if this
offensive line is better than it was last year, which it.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Really should be.
Speaker 6 (04:18):
But let me take you back to when the Giants
signed Russell Wilson. Somebody who knows the Giants well said
to me, desperate teams do desperate things. They were desperate
for a veteran quarterback. They knew at that point they
were almost certainly going to try to draft one that
became Jackson Dark, but they needed a veteran presence to
start the season. The question is how committed they are
(04:41):
going to remain to Russell Wilson as the starting quarterback.
They have said ever since the day they drafted Jackson
Dark that the plan was to have him sit on
the bench and learn. They believe he's got a lot
to learn. But we've been over this before. The Giants
have a very very difficult schedule, especially in the first
half of the season, and so even if Russell Wilson
(05:01):
is playing fine, it's very possible that the Giants are
not winning a lot of games in the first half
of the season. That's really going to test their plan,
because you know, we've seen it over and over again
around the league when teams are struggling, the call always
comes to go with the young guy, see if he
can give the team a spark. So are they going
to stick with their plan to let Jackson Dart sit
(05:24):
on the bench and learn or will they go to him?
At what point in the season will they go to him?
When will they think he's ready? Because there are probably
some jobs in that building that are on the line
this season, and you know they are going to want
to see what they have in Jackson.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Dart, particularly when it's a first round pick. This is
not a second round or a mid round guy. This
is somebody you trade it up to get to go
and get him with a second first round pick, We'll
probably talk more about Jackson Dart than the other guy.
Remember that one they took a number three. People thought
that are they gonna take Shad or Sanders. No, They've
got Neil Carter, one of the best players in the draft.
Another difference on the edge for a team that already
(06:03):
had a couple others. Kevon Thibodeau already calling Abdul Carter
a beast. They made the big trade last year for
Brian Burns as well a lot of fun pieces for
Shane Bowen to play Chesswick through the course of this seasons.
Welcome in are Brian Baldinger. Baldy, I remember everything you
said about Abdul Carter. Going back to the pre draft
process here, what do you think of him with Big
(06:24):
Blue and how do you envision them using all those
different rushers in different ways.
Speaker 7 (06:29):
Well, I'm excited to watch him because.
Speaker 8 (06:31):
He's got elite movement tom and it's not just rushing
the passer. His ability to defeat blocks, to not stay blocked,
get off blocks in the run game, and to go
make plays was evident in three years of Penn State.
But for Shane Bowen, the defensive coort heat of the
second year, he's a big believer in rushing four, he's
out a big blitzkoy get to the quarterback with four
(06:52):
maybe four man twists, maybe some assimilated pressure. But he's
going to join that group of Kavon Thibodeau, Brian Burns.
Speaker 7 (06:59):
And Extra Lawrence, which can be elite.
Speaker 8 (07:02):
And I just think that you know when you watch
him and he'll be on the field every down. He
does have the ability to move around because he did
play two years at the off the ball inside linebacker.
You can line up there if you want to in
certain situations, match them up with certain players in certain situations.
I think they're gonna give him a lot because he's
(07:24):
a natural football player with great movement who loves to
play the game. So I think the more you can
give him, the more exciting he's going to be. But
he's gonna be around some really good players that I
just mentioned. He has a chance to make those players better,
and that's always the sign of a great player.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
First task for Abnuel Carter chasing around Jaden Daniels in
their opener in September. The Ravens meanwhile, open up against
the Bills, one of several tasty weekend opening matchups. They're
out there as well for this week's Minnie Camp. Lamar
Jackson has skipped a lot of the voluntary work through
the spring. In the house this week. Do not exactly
(08:02):
sound eager to talk reporters about a potential contract etcent.
Speaker 9 (08:07):
You know, I never discussed contract situations here, but yeah,
I don't want to talk about it that okay with you.
I don't think I'll get over any loss, to be honest,
I got lost this from youth football. That still hunting me,
you know, so I never get over it.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
I was.
Speaker 9 (08:23):
I don't care how small it may be to someone else,
or how great it might be. It's always the same
for me. It's football everything not gonna go away, man.
You know before it was like, oh, you can't win
a playoff game. You know, we won a playoff game.
We got to the LC Championship two years ago and
we just fell short, like two games short this year.
But we're gonna bounce back and we come back. I
feel like were gonna have venguins on our mind.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Lamar is contextualizing things there, Judy, I think pretty well.
Because this is a Ravens team that's been at the
precipice for several years now. The question always is how
do they take that next step? And it seemed like
based on their offseason, they believe they've already got a
lot of the right pieces in place.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
They had.
Speaker 6 (09:01):
You know, they've had like a quietly really strong offseason.
There's been so much drama with the other teams in
the ANFC North, and so I feel like the Ravens
have sort of flown a little bit under the radar.
But think about what they've done in this off season.
They retained Ronnie Stanley, extended Derrick Henry, drafted Malachi Starts,
(09:21):
signed d Hop. They've done an awful lot of things
to strengthen what was already a very very strong roster.
As you said, this team has been so so close.
They were in the conference championship game one season ago.
Last year they got booted in the divisional round. They
are just looking for a way to take the next step,
but they have been so close there consistently in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
This is a.
Speaker 6 (09:46):
Consistent super Bowl team as long as Lamar Jackson is healthy.
That's another thing they did this offseason, Cooper Rush. They
got a strong backup quarterback in case Lamar gets hurt.
But this is a team that as long as Lamar
Jackson is healthy and on the field, will be in
the mix. Certainly will be in the mix in the
AFC North, and should be in the mix in the AFC.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
And you look at that screen of the players they've signed.
Bringing back Ronnie Stanley a couple of days or maybe
a day whenever it was before free agency has to
be one of the best moves of the entire offseason
because if you want Lamar Jackson to be himself, if
you wanted to be comfortable back there and make the
plays he always has, it.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Helps to have a really, really good left tackle.
Speaker 5 (10:26):
That was key getting that contract done. The other thing
I would say keeping Mark Andrews there, We'll see what happens,
and there's still trade interest from some teams. Ravens have
not been keeping Mark Andrews there no doubt paramount. You
listen to Lamar Jackson earlier today, give a vote of
confidence for Mark Andrews. You understand how valuable he is.
(10:46):
But this team is not exactly done doing business. Mar
Jackson didn't want to talk about his contract. That is fine,
I will talk about it. The team has had discussions
with Lamar and his representation, which is himself, about a
potential new deal. Will be interested to see if in
fact he ends up as the highest paid quarterback in
the NFL, if he eclipses Dak Prescott or not. He's
got a huge cap numbers for doing the new deal
(11:08):
can benefit the Ravens as well. Another playoff for a
new deal Isaiah Likely. I know the Ravens really see
him as the future of the tight end position, even
if they still see Mark Andrews with a big role
this year. How they handle the Isaiah Likely situation. Are
they able to lock him up at some point before
the season, we really really interesting to tell.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
For Baltimore as well.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
I'm pretty sure that was Lamar the player. No commenting
at the podium because Lamar the agent might have wanted
to go up there and just remind everybody here remember
how good this Ravens offense is. With Lamar my client
of me, Lamar the agent. Look at the Raykings that
they had last year. This was one of the best
offenses in virtually every single category that you could possibly
(11:51):
think of here, and they did it in different ways,
creating big plays not just in the past game, but
in the running game as well. As you bring in
Brian Baldinger here, this is not bringing in DeAndre Hopkins
of five years ago. There have been some injury issues
that he's dealt with. He's getting to be an older player.
But this is part of what Eric de Costa has
done here, is trying to mix and match those young
(12:11):
playmakers with some veterans. They always seem to make some additions.
As you look at this Ravens offense, what's the upside?
Where can they get better in twenty twenty five?
Speaker 7 (12:19):
Well, Lamar, I.
Speaker 8 (12:20):
Mean maybe because Tom he didn't win his third MVP.
Maybe we don't think of Lamar as the elite player
that he is. Get one of the great seasons for
a quarterback of all time. Last year, I mean, he
threw forty one touchdowns in foreign receptions, he led the
league in yards per ten, he led the league in
touchdown percentage per throw. He had the highest quarterback rating
(12:42):
by a long shot at one hundred and nine, fourth
highest in NFL history, and he ran for nine hundred
and seventy five yards. You know, you talk about Nuke
and some of the guys they brought in. He makes
everybody around him better. In fact, when you watch some
week in week out, he is indefensible at this point, and.
Speaker 7 (12:59):
So you say, okay, what else can you do well?
Speaker 8 (13:01):
He just finished his second season with offensive coordinator Todd Munkin.
It's clear that Todd and Lamar have a great relationship.
They see the game, they see the plays very similar
to each other. And then just to playmak the ability
that Lamar has, no matter what you try to do
to him, he puts you in a kerfuffle play in
play out, third downs, red zone because of his ability
(13:24):
to see the whole field and to be able to
just stay there in the pocket now and not have
to take off, but just trust his protection, move what
he has to to make a play, and so I
expect him to continue to improve because I think the
players around him are good. They've added some pieces on
the offensive line that might make them better.
Speaker 7 (13:43):
Derek Hennery is going to be lining up right next
to him or right behind him. That's not going to change.
Speaker 8 (13:48):
This should still be an elite offense and Lamar will
be in contention for his third MVP.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
And Baldi.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
We could break down all the various reasons of getting
over the proverbial hump by the Ravens haven't gotten there.
Maybe the biggest one the continued existence of the Kansas
City Chiefs because three years in a row.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
They've been there.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Throughout the Rotrick Mahomes era, they've been in the AFC
Championship Game every season against what if you thought Mahomes
might finally start to fall off, here's him completing a
crazy side arm pass to Juju Smith Schuster earlier today.
The way last season, though, still stings for the likes
of Chris Jones, I think.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
You used a lot of things as a motivation, especially
this past season, But you know the biggest motivation, you know,
making it to the big.
Speaker 7 (14:33):
Game, losing only losing losing the way we did.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
I think it's a lot a lot of people in
the build and feel like we could have done better.
We feel like we're better and you know, Soice get
him back to the mountain top now, all right.
Speaker 6 (14:52):
Well, obviously, in a big reason for that Super Bowl
loss that Chris Jones was talking about was the offensive line.
It was an issue for the Chiefs really all of
last season. They sought to remedy that with their first
round draft pick, Josh Simmons. He sort of fell to
them late in the first round, coming off a big
injury that he suffered at the end of his college career.
Where do things stand with him?
Speaker 5 (15:14):
Well, to me, they stand in a really really good place.
What the Kannas City Chiefs did was not just draft
Simmons in the first round and you're right, fell to them,
And this is someone I think they really secretly had
their eyes on the entire time. They were really happy
with where he was medically coming back from that torn
pintel attendant. Not all teams were sure about this one.
Chiefs were really happy with where he was. I think
(15:34):
tried to keep it quiet because this is the player
they wanted, just because he's such an unbelievably talented tackle
despite the injury, but they also don't want to rush them,
so they're giving him some time off during the spring.
They're making sure he has days to rehab and rehabilitate.
They also signed Jalen Moore to come in and be
their left tackle until whenever, basically until Simmons is ready,
(15:55):
or maybe the entire year, or maybe Simmons starts out
as the swing tackle. Most important thing for the Chiefs
is they have talent there and they have depth there
to not be caught short at one of the most
important positions on the football field. And seeing the resources
that they use to address this really underscores how important
and essential they believe a good left tackle is.
Speaker 6 (16:19):
They have done an awful lot of work on that
offensive line. As a matter of fact, they could have
three position battles going into the summer. Here are some
big losses, notable losses, big names. Maybe the big one
that stands out to me most is guard Joe Toney.
Joe Toooney at the end of last season was playing
left tackle. The Chiefs had to use four different players
(16:41):
at left tackle last year. That goes again to the
instability of the offensive line let's bring our buddy Baldy
back again.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
Baldy.
Speaker 6 (16:48):
They could have as many as three position battles going
into training camp, but really only two starters locked in
on the offensive line. How important is it for that
offensive line to gel? Not just for this take the
offensive line, but obviously for Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 7 (17:02):
Well, it's critical, Judy. For Patrick, I mean thinking about it.
Speaker 8 (17:05):
You know, he's throwing fifty touchdown passes in a season
in his career early in his career.
Speaker 7 (17:10):
He threw twenty six last year.
Speaker 8 (17:13):
His yards for a tenth last year were the lowest
in his career, at six point eight yards pertend. At
one point he was thrown at eight point eight yards
per tend. What that says, without getting crazy about stats,
he can't hold the ball long enough to get the
ball down the field. They missed the explosive plays. It
happened in the Super Bowl third down. They couldn't convert
on third down. They couldn't stop that pass rush of
the Eagles, and they never blitzed one time. And they
(17:35):
still couldn't hold the ball and protect well enough. So
the band aid of Joe Toney got him to the
Super Bowl last year, but they had to rip it off,
and for the third year in the row, they drafted
a left tackle high in the draft. Maybe Josh Simmons
can be that guy protecting the backside of Mahomes where
he feels comfortable to be able to hold the ball
long enough to be able to push it down the
(17:56):
field to some of his targets. I think that's the
biggest thing right now offense is can they get the
big play back on any kind of a regular basis
because of the guys up front that can hold off
the pass rush coming after Mahomes.
Speaker 6 (18:12):
I think to put this in context, Patrick Mahomes was
sacked thirty six times last season. That was the most
in his career by quite a few Baldi, Thank you
very much.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Tom.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Physically, I'm here hosting this show, but in my mind
I'm with the Rams in Maui right now.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Where else would you really want to be?
Speaker 1 (18:33):
We will check it on the Hawaii Rams coming up
after this. The list on Kien Williams and the possibility
of a Glan Ramsey trade. Also circle back on the
Bengals mini camp.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Orlando Brown Junior is going to be here.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
Nobody knows that team better than their left tackle. Always
a fun interview. Lots more to come on The Insiders.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
Man to be Matthew Stafford hanging out in Hawaii doing
a little practice at a very very professional looking field
where the focus is one hundred percent on football, not
on getting Giovanni shrimp truck, which maybe is the best
lunch I've ever.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Had in my life.
Speaker 5 (19:17):
Anyway, a lot of great things happening with the Rams.
Listen to Sean McVay talk about the Hawaiian vacation or
mini camp.
Speaker 10 (19:24):
The thing is, because Jalen is the caliber player that
he is, he's earned the right to be where he's at.
Usually those are scenarios and situations that you have to
have plans in place prior to executing some of the
decisions that have occurred. So definitely don't want to rule
anything out because we're always open minded to onboarding and
acquiring you know, quality players and people like him if
(19:46):
we're able to do that, But there would be, you know,
some some obstacles that are real that are in the
place of maybe preventing that from a current.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Of Juda Batista.
Speaker 5 (19:56):
As you listen to Sean mvay talk about trying to
acquire quality players while wearing sunglasses in Hawaii. Again, this
is a very serious football thing that's happening there. They're
not just there to surf, They're there to to do
football things in a very serious manner. One of the
players they acquired this past March, a very quality player,
(20:17):
was DeVante Adams, who has really embraced being a Ram
and this sort of rebirth. What kind of impact do
we expect him to have on this team.
Speaker 6 (20:27):
Well, he has embraced it. And it takes me to
that picture of Sean McVay and Maui. Dvante Adams used
the word vibe and aura talking about his experience so
far with the Rams. He has fit in really well.
Of course, this is one of the signature acquisitions of
the offseason. He's brought in there to replace Cooper Kuppe,
to pair with Phuka Nakua. And you may say, all right, well,
(20:50):
Davante Adams is nearing the you know, the back end
of his career here, Okay, But under ridiculous circumstances last
season he was traded in the middle of the season
to a Jets team that was headed for a complete rebuild.
He still had one thousand yards receiving fifth season in a.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Row like that.
Speaker 6 (21:07):
He still had eight receiving touchdowns. So Devonte Adams was
still performing at a very high level under really challenging circumstances.
I would say, so, Imagine what he can do. Imagine
how good he must feel with the Rams. With an
established veteran quarterback like Matthew Stafford and a coach in
Sean McVay who is focused on getting the very best
(21:30):
for Matthew Stafford, this is a great situation for Devontae
Adams and a pretty good situation for Matthew Stafford too.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Yeah, I would say so.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
Obviously, the big addition on offense, you really do wonder
wonder if the Rams are going to have a similarly
big addition on defense. The Jalen Ramsey trade, the prospect
of a reunion with the Miami Dolphins corner who. I
think it's safe to say both of the sides, Dolphins
and Ramsey would more than welcome a split, more than
welcome a new home for Ramsey.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
The Rams make these.
Speaker 5 (22:00):
They have not been able to figure out a deal
just yet. It's complicated. Twenty one million dollars for Jill
and Ramsey. Do the Dolphins eat some of that money
to trade them. If they do, how does that affect
the draft pick compensation. There's really a lot there, but
the fact that the Rams have not ruled it out,
the Dolphins have not ruled it out. Certainly, Ramsey has
not ruled out a reunion with a team that he
(22:20):
likes so much, with people that he liked to deal
with so much. It certainly is something that we will
be watching. We will keep watching until this trade maybe
sort of eventually happens before training campers some point. It
is absolutely going to be a topic of discussion. Good stuff,
Judy hanging there. We will get back to you, obviously,
very surely. Let's turn our attention to the San Francisco
(22:43):
forty nine ers and Brock Purty. No, we don't have
to talk about a new contract for Brock party. We
already did that with plenty of time to go in
the off season. John Lynch is down managers of forty
nine ers, handled most financial things, in fact, all financial things.
Listen to Lynch discuss their outlook for this offseason.
Speaker 11 (23:03):
Which all signaled something that we knew a plan of ours,
which was we had to get younger, and we had
to get a little cheaper because we had some plans
on what we wanted to do with our core and
our obviously our quarterback, and so I think, you know,
some twists and turns, but we executed a plan that
we needed.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
To Tom Pella, Sarah, Brian Baldinger back here on the Insiders, Baldi,
we talked so much about the offensive changes for the
forty nine ers in this offseason, moving on from Deebo
Samuel Christian McCaffrey being back and by all accounts looking healthy.
But this's become an annual right of passage. A different
defensive coordinator. They've had these changes every year. What do
(23:44):
you make of Robert Sla being back there and the
impact that can have across the entire day.
Speaker 8 (23:49):
A couple of things, Tom Robin sALS now their fourth
defensive coordinator in the last four years, in four since
Robert Sala left to be the head coach of the Jets.
He is a front four dominant defensive coach. He wants
to get home and disrupt quarterbacks with the front four.
Speaker 7 (24:05):
Well, John Lynch, they had to get younger.
Speaker 8 (24:08):
They kept bringing in veteran retreads on the defensive front.
They just did not produce and so last year was
not a good year for this defense. And so I
saw John Lynch at the Senior Bowl this year with
a very deep draft and defensive lineman. They went out
and spent the first pick on Mike kel Williams, second
pick Alfred Collins, fourth pick CJ. West, they went and
(24:29):
traded for Bryce Hup. They have rejuvenated that defensive front
and if the defense is going to take a turnaround
from a year ago where they didn't take the ball
away enough, they didn't get off the field, especially the
last three weeks of the season with Nick Bosa on
the shelf injured, that was not a good looking defense.
Speaker 7 (24:47):
But maybe with.
Speaker 8 (24:47):
This front four should be young, should be rejuvenated right now,
relying on youth and get Nick Bosa back fully healthy.
I think it could be the start of turning things
around and the start of putting youth back into this defense.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
Forty nine ers want to get more out of that defense.
For everybody else, you can get more of the NFL
with NFL Plus.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Stay connected throughout the offseason with twenty four to seven
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plus Premium.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
Or relive your favorite moments.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
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The countdown is onto training camps, including in Cincinnati, where
the Bengals will kick things off of their first practice
(25:40):
on July twenty third. That is just thirty six days away.
But I bet that if there's one guy who's already
ready to go, it's our next guest. Four time Pro
Bowl tackle Orlando Brown Junior is with us here on
the Insiders with me, Tom Pelicero and Brian Baldinger. Orlando,
I know you always stay ready. What are you up
to it right now?
Speaker 2 (26:00):
How was life for you?
Speaker 7 (26:02):
Man?
Speaker 12 (26:02):
Life's been really good. I'm just here in Cincinnati. Honestly,
I don't really leave here, you know. For me, it's
more about the mental to aspect the things, being able
to stay in it, continue to I guess, stay in
that state of mind. You know, I think a lot
of times before you know, getting away, I might get
my mind away from it too much. And for me,
I think I found something good for me in my
(26:23):
career being here full time.
Speaker 8 (26:25):
One of those things you did last year, Zeus that
you told me about was you got in the pool,
you were swimming, You're doing laps, you know, like, were
you swimming this year if you found something else to
like occupy your time to build your body, to shape
it the way you want to.
Speaker 7 (26:40):
Get ready for the season.
Speaker 12 (26:42):
Yeah, yeah, No, in the summers, I'll still be in
the pool. I'll still be swimming. For me, I do
a lot of boxing between February, March and April pretty
much before we.
Speaker 7 (26:51):
Go into that OTA phase.
Speaker 12 (26:53):
But yeah, I'll be swimming, man, I'll be refinding my
past set all of those different things, riding my bike,
a big bike rider during this time of year. So
I'll still be in that pool.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
From the offensive perspective here Orlando, and you've gotten a
feel for now through OTAs and through Mini camp. It's
a lot of familiar faces. It's the key playmakers. Obviously
Joe back. He's healthy right now, which is huge. You
guys got the deal done with Jamar Chase, You got
t Higgins back. What do you think you have in
Cincinnati on that side of the ball, man, I.
Speaker 7 (27:24):
Mean we're really special, you know. I'm really proud of
the way.
Speaker 12 (27:26):
That we worked this offseason, just with the intent and
focused from us as individuals, as players, everything that the
coaches threw at us, we were able to respond really well.
Speaker 7 (27:37):
And I mean, I'm excited, man.
Speaker 12 (27:38):
I mean, I think at the end of the day,
you know, paying Tea and Jamar making them more comfortable
knowing that they're going to be able to go out
there and sell out even more than they have in
the pass.
Speaker 7 (27:49):
I think it's only going to make us better.
Speaker 8 (27:50):
To be honest, sous, last year, you won your last
five games in a row to get to nine wins,
including Week eighteen to beating this deals. Do you feel
like is there any carry over when you finish the
season like that, even though you come up.
Speaker 7 (28:06):
Short of the playoffs?
Speaker 8 (28:08):
Is there a carryover to how you finish the season
going into the offseason.
Speaker 12 (28:12):
Yeah, you know, that's a good question, I would say
for us, I think the focus has been more on
this year as opposed to last year in previous years,
because there's there's so many areas that we want to
take a take the next step in now, you know,
I think at the end of the day.
Speaker 7 (28:28):
We know who we are, we know what our DNA.
Speaker 12 (28:30):
Is, especially as a team and as an offense. Uh,
you know, so we have a ton of confidence in that.
But man, I mean, I wouldn't say that to me.
I don't think it's necessarily going to be a ton
of carryover, although you know you think it would be.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Now.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
You guys always it seems Orlando have some type of
off season drama, right contract wise. Last year it was
Jumar and he was on and off the field. This
time around, and you got Trey Hendrickson who wants new
contracts make clear he's not playing on his existing deal.
And your first pick, Samar Stewart, it's been in the building,
but he hasn't actually practiced. Just give me a sense
of how the locker room is looking at these issues
(29:08):
and what level of confidence of venue you have what
it's time to play the real games.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
These guys are out there.
Speaker 12 (29:13):
Yeah, no, man, I'm very confident that they'll be out there.
I imagine in trade situation they'll get that figured out.
Speaker 8 (29:20):
Man.
Speaker 12 (29:20):
He's one of the best in the league at what
he does, you know, And I think in Schamar's case,
I imagine they'll get that done to coming to terms on
whatever the language or specific amount.
Speaker 7 (29:32):
Of money it is.
Speaker 12 (29:32):
Man, these are two very important players for us one
being an All Pro defensive player to your candidate, man,
and I imagine the team is going to take care
of business.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
Judu.
Speaker 7 (29:43):
I know you feel blessed on a daily basis, but you.
Speaker 8 (29:45):
Know, from the standpoint of you leave Oklahoma and you
were working with Baker Mayfield protecting him, you get drafted
by the Baltimore Ravens, or protecting the Super Bowl MVP
Joe Flacco, Lamar takes over.
Speaker 7 (29:59):
You work with Lamar Like the hell with right tackle.
I'm a left tackle.
Speaker 8 (30:02):
I go to Kansas City and protect Patrick Mahomes winning
Super Bowl, and then you know what, it's time to
get paid.
Speaker 7 (30:07):
Let me go to Cincinnati protect Joe Burrow.
Speaker 8 (30:10):
Like you get the sense that, like you're in left
tackle heaven right now working with some of the guys
you've worked with over the last seven eight years.
Speaker 7 (30:19):
I am, man, I am.
Speaker 12 (30:20):
I've been very, very fortunately, very blessed to suit up
with some.
Speaker 7 (30:25):
Of these men.
Speaker 12 (30:26):
I mean, these are some of the best quarterbacks of
my current generational football man that a lot of kids
look up to, that a lot of our peers look
up to. And you know, I think, man, it's just
so cool to be able to me having met each
one of them at different career points in life or
different points of life, you know, being with Lamar as
a rookie before he wins his first MVP, being there
(30:48):
for Pat's second MVP, being here Joe don't have it yet,
but it's coming Joe's first MVP, and the transition in
the points of where they are in their career is
what makes it so cool and special to me.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Orlando.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
I remember being at your very first rookie mini camp practice.
I was there for Lamar Jackson because he was a
first drum peck, but really I was there to see you,
and I can remember very clearly. You're at the podium,
You're this huge dude, you got your headband tied on,
You're in like the skin tight team gear. Was your
first time being out there, but you projected this kind
of maturity that you don't often see from rookies. I'm
wondering now, seven years later, what advice if any twenty
(31:24):
nine year old Orlando Brown Junior would be giving to
that guy back in twenty eighteen.
Speaker 12 (31:29):
Yeah, you know, I think, just like anybody else man
in this professor controlling what you can control.
Speaker 7 (31:35):
You know, it's something I would have told myself even more.
Speaker 12 (31:38):
You know, I don't necessarily have any regrets how things
have gone, but I do think that there are areas
I could have been better in just in terms of
nutrition and taking care of my body, things that would
have even put me on a higher trajectory. And you know,
if I could go back at time, I would tell
myself the control what you can control.
Speaker 7 (31:57):
Zeus.
Speaker 8 (31:58):
There's very few people at I've ever met that are
bigger than you. Until you introduced me to last year's
number one pick a Marius MEM's and I'm like, Yeah,
there's a guy bigger than Jews.
Speaker 7 (32:08):
What can we expect here year two for a marriage?
Speaker 8 (32:11):
Because he does he can't block out the sun. He
is a human eclipse, and so I'm just curious, second year,
what can we expect here from the young guy?
Speaker 12 (32:21):
Yeah, high expectations, man, That's why we took him in
the first round last year. You know, I think at
the end of the day, Mims has been working his
tail off to get better, and to me, I think
that's everything.
Speaker 7 (32:32):
You know, he's got the right mindset. He's had the
right mindset.
Speaker 12 (32:35):
From day one since he came into building, and he's
done done all the little things and done everything right. So, man,
he's got huge expectations for herself. No better than anybody else.
But I mean, I would tell you he's been putting
the work in man, and you know, I'm really looking
forward to seeing what he puts on tape.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
So come July twenty third, obviously you're gonna be laser
locked on getting this thing rolling in training camp. And
I know you do a lot of stuff off the field,
especially during times like this. Tell me about out the
Juneteenth Jubilee that's coming up here on Thursday.
Speaker 7 (33:04):
Yeah, so it's actually my second year doing this.
Speaker 8 (33:06):
Man.
Speaker 12 (33:06):
I hosted with the Freedom Center in downtown Cincinnati at
the Banks. Man, they do such a great job giving
us all the space and support that we need.
Speaker 7 (33:16):
It will be a ton of people there as well.
Speaker 12 (33:17):
But just celebrating Juneteenth, sharing the love with the city
was something that me and my family celebrated a ton.
Speaker 7 (33:24):
You know, my dad's parents being from mccormerck County.
Speaker 12 (33:28):
South Carolina, Plumber and South Carolina, really small town, small county,
and you know, it's just something we always grew up celebrating.
So just want to give back and educate people and
get together.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
That's awesome, man, real quick too. Before we let you go,
you mentioned the swimming that you do in the off season.
Baldy is the guy who loves to post every scuba
diving video. He's swimming with sharks. You two in the pool,
two laps. Who's winning Orlandoh.
Speaker 7 (33:53):
Man, I'm not gonna lie to you. I'm getting out
of there, Baldy, I'm getting out of there. Yeah, tell
you Zuos.
Speaker 8 (34:01):
You might get me like off the start, but I
got a great flip turn when we hit that wall.
Speaker 7 (34:05):
I'm coming.
Speaker 8 (34:06):
I'm already coming back, bro. So I'm gonna keep showing
a flip turn for sure.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
We're getting that video for tomorrow's show.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
Orlando, thank you very much for being here, man, Best luck.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
We'll see in Cincinnati in a few.
Speaker 7 (34:19):
Weeks here of course, thank you, guys.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
AFC North one of the most fascinating divisions in football,
not just because of the Bengals, but because that guy
is now in it. Aaron Rodgers just showed up a
week or so, go Honkin search. Would Pittsburgh fans be
about the late arrival? Judy Batista's thoughts on that and
the impact of other big off season storylines coming up
after this on the Incentives.
Speaker 5 (34:50):
Pittsburgh Steelers do not have practiced this week, but that's okay.
They start practicing again July twenty fourth, Latrophy and that
guy right there, Aaron Rodgers, will be on the field.
The mystery is over. Rogers is on the Steelers. We
spent an entire offseason talking about it. Now it is
here and it is real, and let's bring back in
(35:13):
Judy Batista to talk about your article on NFL dot
com once again.
Speaker 2 (35:18):
Tell me what to think. So this is.
Speaker 5 (35:20):
Where we will start off, Judi, what storylines may be
involving the Steelers. I don't know, just a little foreshadowing.
Should I not overreact to from the spring?
Speaker 6 (35:31):
Should not overreact to Aaron Rodgers' late arrival with the
Pittsburgh Steelers, because it really wasn't all that late, even
though we spent weeks, weeks and weeks wondering when he
was finally going to show up. Don't forget for the
Jets last year, he wasn't at Mini caamp either, and
he's still managed to throw for almost four thousand yards
and twenty eight touchdowns on a team that was headed
(35:53):
for a complete overhaul. So missing Mini caamp did not
appear to be a big problem last season.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
For Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 6 (36:01):
The good news for the Pittsburgh Steelers is he is
another year removed from the achilles injury. In the second
half of the season last year for the Jets, he
certainly looked a lot better than he did in the
first half. He was healthier at that point. The other
good news is that even though he hadn't signed on
the dotted line, Aaron Rodgers had been in contact with
Mike Tomlin all along, had been throwing with DK Metcalf
(36:22):
all along. Now he gets to dig into the playbook
and he can get to official practices at training camp.
But everybody should relax about his late arrival. The other
thing you don't have to worry about is in Houston,
c J. Stroud did not throw for much of the
off season. They said general soreness. He did throw a
little bit though in Mini caamp, and that was really
(36:43):
good news. He did not have a documented shoulder injury
last season, but Demiko Ryans, when he was asked about it,
would not answer the question of well, is it possible
that he needs surgery? And that's sent up all of
these red flags wasn't necessary.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
He was fine.
Speaker 6 (36:57):
He did throw in mini camp as I said a
little bit. He said he's fine. He sort of laughed
and said, you guys don't have enough things to report on.
That's why this blew up as a story. He might
be right, good media analysis by C. J. Strout, He
does not. He says, we don't need to worry about it.
Speaker 7 (37:13):
I believe him.
Speaker 6 (37:14):
Don't worry about it.
Speaker 5 (37:16):
As our friend Andrew Marshawn says, everyone wants to cover
sports media, including Demiko Ryans. Okay, so now I know
what not to overreact to. Why don't you coach mail
a little bit and tell me what needs more attention.
Speaker 6 (37:29):
I don't really know how much more attention we can
give this topic, but all of the past rushers who
are waiting for contracts deserve the attention that we are
giving it and that we are going to continue to
give it for the rest of the summer until they
get done. Certainly, the Micah Parsons contract is the headliner here.
Speaker 2 (37:46):
We're all waiting.
Speaker 6 (37:47):
We know that historically the Dallas Cowboys are quite comfortable
letting these contract situations go all the way to the
last minute. Just think about Pak Prescott last year as
we were getting ready for kickoff in Week one. So
we will see what happens with Michael Parsons, but of
course there are others TJ.
Speaker 2 (38:02):
Watt.
Speaker 6 (38:02):
They sound pretty confident in Pittsburgh that that one is
going to get done. And then we were just talking
to Orlando Brown about the situation in Cincinnati with both
Trey Hendrickson and the rookie Schmore Stewart. Very unusual situation, especially.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
With the rookie.
Speaker 6 (38:18):
He was there and then he left mandatory mini camp
without a contract. Trey Hendrickson has said he will not
play on his current contract. They've got a lot to
clean up in Cincinnati in the next few weeks.
Speaker 5 (38:31):
Great stuff as always, Judy NFL dot Com slash Batista
for more mental coaching by our good friend Beauty.
Speaker 1 (38:42):
The new look Jets held their mandatory mini camp last week,
a lot of new faces. Nick Schuk with the NFL
dot Com has the Jets among his most improved teams
heading into twenty twenty five. To welcome you back to
the insiders, Tom Pilisero and Brian Baldier. Baldy will set
aside Nick Shook's rankings for a second hear you tell me,
(39:04):
who do you think are some of the most improved
teams heading into the season.
Speaker 8 (39:08):
Well, I read the charticle. I mean, I do agree
that Chicago Bears are going to be better. It's one
of Nick's teams that you know. I mean, Caleb Williams
was sacked sixty eight times last year. Just cut that
in half right now to improved offense line and Ben
Johnson coaching. But I was in Tampa a couple weeks ago,
Tom maybe two weeks ago for OTAs. I was around
that team. I mean, they won ten games last year,
won the division for the fourth year in a row.
(39:32):
They're gonna be projected to win it again. But I
think they're gonna be even better this year. I mean,
I think they've improved the secondary with the incoming Benjamin Morrison,
Jacob Parris and the secondary. I think Emica Buka is
really going to help in the passing game to go
with the Jaalen Villin, Mike Evans, while Chris Godwin men's
(39:52):
I think, and they returned the whole five offensive line.
Speaker 7 (39:55):
I mean, I think Camp is gonna be improved, but
I also.
Speaker 8 (39:57):
Think Arizona is gonna be greatly Remember now, Arizona won
eight games last year, all right, they were eight and
nine to finish the season. But defensively, I don't know
that anybody has addressed the defensive line outside linebacker position
like they have, including you know, bring in Kalayas Campbell,
drafting Walter Nolan junior. You know, they just got Dalvin
(40:21):
Thomlinson a defensive tackle right now, Baron Browning from Denver,
Darius Robinson comes back healthy in his second year, last
year's number one draft pick. I think so much better
upfront than you add Will Johnson to the secondary right
now to go with what they have, you know, I
just think that this is going to be a vastly
improved team and a very competitive envision. I don't know
(40:43):
how many wins Arizona's gonna have, but I know defensively
they're going to be a lot better and will effect
the quarterbacks a lot better than they did a year ago.
Speaker 1 (40:54):
Also notable that was such a young coaching staff when
they got hired a couple of years ago Baldi Cardinals
and this season, I believe the only team with their
offensive and defensive coordinators intact for three consecutive years. Balie
will see you again soon. You know what you don't
have to wait for though, NFL tickets. That's right, the
waight is over. Countown to Kickoff has begun. Single game
(41:16):
tickets for the twenty twenty five NFL season are on
sale now.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
Who's at NFL dot com.
Speaker 1 (41:21):
Slash tickets to purchase tickets today. Tickets are available through
the NFL ticket network, including Ticketmasters, seint Geek, and Sports
Illustrated Tickets. Tappy National Mascot Day, which apparently I just
found out is a real thing. Great time to celebrate
all those great NFL mascots and also a big day
(41:42):
for big news in the big furry soup world. Dan Mears,
the franchise's original kse Wolf, has announced his retirement after
thirty five years as the team's director of Shenanigan's. The search,
according to the chiefs, for the next case Wolf, is underway,
with top candidates having already completed interviews with the club.
(42:03):
Shut it aside because we don't have time on figuring
out how one becomes a top candidate to put on
a wolf costume and thrust their hips on Sundays. Judy,
I'm curious if you were doing the hiring here what
to you matters most in a good mascot.
Speaker 6 (42:18):
I gotta be honest. With all due respect to the
NFL mascots, I prefer the college teams that bring live
animals onto the sideline as their mascots. Remember the year
that the Longhorn went after the bulldog at the National
Championship Game.
Speaker 7 (42:30):
Yes, I love those mascots.
Speaker 2 (42:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (42:34):
So when I covered Alabama for the Vernian News, there
was always a rumor that there would be a live
elephant in Bryan Denny Stadium. It would go around the
message board, it would pick up steam and someone have
to say this is fake.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
One day it'll be.
Speaker 5 (42:47):
Real and there'll be an elephant on the field at Alabama.
God willing Tom.
Speaker 1 (42:53):
He just has always looked like a dranged Chuck e Cheese.
Dan Meuhir is doing great work there here. I just
like the mascots can celebrate in ways that if players did,
it would yield a flag pulsin tomorrow souven Eastern later
Hosts And Creators
Judy Battista
Tom Pelissero
Ian Rapaport
Mike Garafolo
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