NFL Network insiders Tom Pelissero, Judy Battista and Mike Garafolo deliver football's biggest headlines on the eve of week 14 of the regular season. The show begins with the news that Houston's Azeez Al-Shaair will have his suspension upheld after his hit on Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Then, Bucky Brooks and Marc Ross debate who will champion the highly contested NFC West. Later, Bridget Condon previews Chargers-Chiefs and Steve Wyche previews Browns-Steelers. Cameron Wolfe also joins the show to discuss the Buffalo Bills dominance.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
The Chiefs have punched their ticket to the playoffs, but
it ain't over yet. In the AFC West, will the
Chargers keep things interesting with a win on Sunday night
and get closer to their own playoff return.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Our bridge at Condon will tell.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
You how La can get a w Cowboys won two
in a row to keep their own playoff hopes alive
and a prominent voice in the locker room now throwing
his support behind it potential Mike McCarthy contract extension. Here
what Dak Prescott is saying about his head coach's future
in Dallas. Cayler Williams already on his second head coach
(00:45):
with Thomas Brown said to make his debut on Sunday
at San Francisco.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Bucky Brooks and.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Mark Cross will be here to show you how the
Bears in their rookie QB can make the most of
these next five weeks.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Winning the game for.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
The first time mid October would certainly be an nice star.
Welcome inside with the insiders alongside Judy Matizta and Mike Garafullo.
I am Tom Pelisero. We are now on the eve
of Week fourteen.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
In the NFL.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
It starts out with a tasty one on Thursday Night football,
the Lions and the Packers. We got so much to
get into over the next hour, but we begin with
some breaking news tonight. After hearing the appeal today, join
the appointment Appeals Officer Ramon Foster has upheld the three
game suspension for Texans linebacker Aziz al Shire for repeat
(01:40):
violations of the NFL's rules on player health and safety,
including that hit right there on Trevor Lawrence in Sunday's
game that sparked a brawl.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Al Shire then continued the brawl.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Taking off his helmet get into it with Jaguars players.
The Texans made abundantly clear their frustration with what they
felt was the inconsistency of that punishment for al Shier. However,
Ramone Foster, who is jointly appointed by the NFL and
the NFLPA, upheld it, which means al Shire now will
miss games against the Dolphins, Chiefs, and Ravens for he's
(02:15):
eligible to return for the Week eighteen finale at Tennessee. Meanwhile,
the Jaguars placing their quarterback Trevor Lawrence on injured reserve.
He is, according to our Ian Rappaport, expected to have
surgery to repair that left ac joint injury that he
had suffered about a month or so ago.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Returned to the field this week.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Now off the field once again, done for this season.
Plenty of time to recover for twenty twenty five. Judy
A lot to unpack here as he's al Shire officially
now will be out three games. Trevor Lawrence not to
be seen again this season. Impact on Houston in a
playoff chase here, what do you got.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Well, significant impact on Houston. I'm frankly surprised that the
suspension was not reduced. In the past, they have reduced
suspensions on appeal, but in this case, it was clear
that the league felt there was a pattern of behavior
and not just a pattern of behavior previously. But then
after the hit on Trevor Lawrence, you know, the behavior
(03:18):
during the brawl contributed to the scope of the suspension.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
So I'm not surprised that Ramon Foster upheld it.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
And again it is worth emphasizing that the hearing officers
are jointly appointed by the League and the Players Association.
As for Trevor Lawrence, this just seemed like the smart
thing to do. First of all, he'd had the shoulder
injury for a while. But also this just seems to
remove any pressure on the player for trying to.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Get back with the team.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
I go back to what the Dolphins did when Tua
was concussed. They put them on ir because they didn't
want the player to feel any pressure to try to
rush back, and I think that's the smart thing to
do in Trevor law case, especially because the Jaguars are
out of the playoff picture anyway, There's absolutely no reason
why he should be trying to get back.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
On the field, and this does.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Give them the opportunity now to get the surgery done
and get him on the road to recovery.
Speaker 5 (04:15):
Judy, I feel like early on, when the NFL really
started to levy suspensions for hits that occurred on the field,
these things were reduced, let's say, were a game reduced
to a large fine, or maybe the number was brought
to These have started to stick now. And you're right
to point out that the arbitrator, Ramon Foster in this
case and in every case when it comes to on
(04:35):
field discipline, is jointly appointed by both the league and
the union. So even the independent evaluators here are agreeing
with the fact that these hits on the head of
a quarterback late hits when a quarterback is sliding, it
needs to be upheld. Derwin James suspension earlier this year
upheld as well, so everybody understands the importance of making
(04:57):
sure that it's not just lip service. And they say
they're trying to make the game safer, but hits like
this won't be tolerated in Aushaire now has to be
careful moving forward because it'll be an increased number the
next time if and when he does get suspended for
something that's happening on the field. That is the way
that they approach this discipline. So upheld here sucks for
Trevor Lawrence, who knows what the coaching situation is going
(05:20):
to be like once he comes back. We're all gonna
be watching the Jaguars the day after their final game
to see if, indeed shot Con does make a move
at the coaching position. So a lot to see what's
gonna happen with the Jaguars before opening day next year.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Also bears mentioned here.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
The Jaguars very much in the running for the number
one overall pick. Now, no, they will not have their
starting quarterback for the balance of this season, although they
did perform better when Mac Jones took over last week.
The former Patriots starter a big opportunity for him over
these next five games. He can become a free agent
again here for the first time in his young career,
(05:57):
so maybe it can show enough that he gets an
two in twenty twenty five. A lot of teams still
have something to play for in twenty twenty four, including
three teams that can wrap up playoff berths this week.
The Lions, if they win tomorrow night against the Packers,
would wrap up a playoff berth. They'd still have some
work to do to clinch the division. The Vikings would
(06:17):
need a win and some help. There's also a bunch
of scenarios involving ties. We've only got enough space on
TV for a couple of these things. It's far more
complicated Eagles, same deal. A lot of things that have
to happen. If you look at the standings right now,
all three of those teams borring a total collapse are
getting in.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
The Ravens probably are getting in the playoffs, but they've
got a lot of.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Drama surrounding that team right now, including what ended up
today being a one game suspension for wide receiver Deontay
Johnson for conduct detrimental to the team. Garifalo, you broke
this news earlier today, it was apparent something was a miss.
Now once again Deontay Johnson find himself in hot water.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (06:58):
John Harball comment both on Sunday after the game and
then Monday as well, saying basically that he needed to
gather more information and the information was how they were
going to handle this. They made it clear in the
statement from Eric DaCosta, their general manager, that Johnson refused
to go into the game on Sunday against the Eagles,
so he'll miss this game coming up against the Giants.
(07:19):
Let me add a little bit of context. This was
late in the game. This was after Rashad Bateman had
gotten hurt. Johnson hadn't played early in the game. I
don't know if it was mid to late fourth quarter.
I'm trying to remember the timeline, but it was well
into the second half, and by that point he was
upset with the fact that he hadn't seen the field.
And I would say, when you bring in Deontay Johnson
(07:40):
to have him be receiver for receiver five, this is
a guy who we've seen in the past once the
football wants to be involved, so they made the trade
with the Panthers. They didn't give much up, but you've
got Lamar Jackson. After the game, when I asked him
about I said, are you going to have a conversation
with Johnson to keep his head right? And he said,
this is a guy that we need out there. We
want him out there. So at this point we got
(08:02):
to see how it's going to play out because this
is a one game suspension. It could have been higher,
but it's a one game suspension here and now how
do you handle this moving forward? Does Johnson come back
and say, all right, I'm locked in. I'll serve my
one game. We had a packer suspension earlier this year
was JayR Alexander.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
No, no, it was last year. It was one of the receivers.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
This year, Tom, you'll correct me when I'm done talking
and you come back and you're locked in a Romeo Dobbs.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
I think, so that's a possibility.
Speaker 5 (08:27):
Could be something like that, or this could be something
that continues to go on. And then who knows, if
the author Jackson ever sees the field with the Ravens
will keep an eye on it and let you know
how it goes.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Quite a year for Deontay Johnson, a contract year, no less.
Part of the reasoning the Steelers had when they traded
him away was they want to be a run first
football team. There weren't gonna be a ton of targets.
They need to get the ball to George Pickens a lot.
So he gets himself traded to the Panthers. Not happy there,
gets himself traded to the Ravens for virtually nothing. Now
not happy there. You could say, maybe this is how
(08:58):
to kill your career in ten steps. But he's a
wide receiver. He's twenty eight years old. He's still very talented.
Somebody's going to give an opportunity. He's going to have
to make the most of his opportunity down the stretch
more than likely. In Baltimore, the Bucks have had their
own wide receivers issues this year, mostly involving injuries. Chris
Godwin done for the season, Mike Evans is back, Baker
Mayfield a near miss. He said he thought he tore
(09:20):
his achilles on this play. Initially, it turned out he
was just spiked in the back of his leg.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
He was We're in a big old sleeve.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
During his press conference earlier today, was listed as a
full participant if they had had practice today, and he
is ready for the stretch run.
Speaker 6 (09:37):
Our mentality right now is that we're in playoff mode.
We got to win out to get in and just
see what happens. So it's one game at a time mentality,
much like last year, and we're going to continue to
say it. We're sitting Obviously we'd like to have a
better record than we do now, but we're still saying
that we control our own destiny. So that's outside factors
right now don't really matter if we don't take care
(09:58):
of business. So it's got to be how do we
win this game, and it's got to be like that
every week on out.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Take a look at the NFC playoff picture at this stage,
you see the Bucks and the Falcons technically are tied
atop the NFC West, still five games to go throughout
the tie breakers for the moment. Here, you've got the
Saints who are still hovering somewhere in that mix as well.
Somebody's going to host a playoff game, probably against the
team like the Vikings.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Or the Packers.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Will be interesting to see as we get closer to
that what those matchups look like here, Judy, But there's
a lot going on right now in the NFC South,
and nobody has exactly distinguished themselves on a consistent basis.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
No, and the Bucks are alive because the Falcons did
not have the opportunity to pull ahead. They went into
a slump exactly when the Bucks had their big injury
situation on offense, so they couldn't exploit that chance to
pull away in the NFC South and as a result,
the Bucks are in it. Keep in mind they have
lost both games to the Falcons, though, so they would
need to be clear of the Falcons to win the division.
(11:03):
They have a very very manageable schedule. They manage to
get through Mike Evans is back. That certainly has given
them a boost. They got the big performance from Bucky Irving.
That is a big boost too. The problem for the Bucks, incredibly.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Is their defense.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Their defense has been an issue all season, particularly the
past defense. They're not getting very many sacks, they're not
getting many interceptions. They give up a whole lot of
air yards, a whole lot of yards after catch. That
is where they have to tighten things up again. They
have a really manageable schedule. They've got the Raiders this week,
but then they.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
Have the Chargers.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
You probably don't want to see Justin Herbert when your
pass defense is struggling. Still, the Bucks are alive, very
much alive, in a very top SA turvy NFC South.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
There is only one team eliminated entirely in the NFC.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
That is the New York Giants.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
The Dallas Cowboys, despite a lengthy losing streak and losing
their starting quarterback, they need a lot to happen, but
there's still in it. They've won a couple of games
in a row. You heard Jerry Jones speaking on the
radio last week saying doesn't think it's crazy at all
to consider the idea of extending Mike McCarthy's contract, and
Dak Prescott himself seems to like that idea.
Speaker 7 (12:17):
I believe in him wholeheartedly. I think he definitely deserves
a chance another another contract, and a chance to coach
this team, amongst and and condact.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
I guess you can say.
Speaker 7 (12:31):
More influence on his terms may be maybe a good
way to say it, but but I whole heartedly believe
in him. The guys who won a Super Bowl. I
know Jay's attested to that there's not many guys or
coaches who have done that, and to have one that
can do it from experience, and I know how valuable
he's been for me.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
You can read at NFL dot com slash Batista for
all of Judy's top ten coaches with the most to
prove over the of the twenty twenty four season. Mike
McCarthy up there, just behind Brian Dable and Mike McDaniel
a top that list. Mike McCarthy's proven a lot Judy
over his close to two decades as an NFL head coach.
(13:12):
This is one of those moments where there's a lot
of stressors from a lot of different reasons, including the
injury situation and the fact that Jerry Jones is once
again allowing his head coach to coach out the final
year of his deal.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Well, let's start with the fact that it is never
a bad thing for a head coach to have the
endorsement of the franchise quarterback. That carries some weight in
most organizations, and in this organization where they just re
upped Dak Prescott, it certainly should carry some weight. What
would carry even more weight would be winning some more games.
They have revived themselves, They've won a few, They've got
(13:49):
some winnable.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Games ahead of them.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
If they can keep that going and at least show
that they continue to play hard for Mike McCarthy, that
obviously would help. But the bottom line here is, ultimately
this is going to be what Jerry Jones feels at
the end of the season. Is there somebody out there
available who he is enamored with, who he thinks could
do a better job as the head coach of the
(14:11):
Dallas Cowboys. Is there a recognition in the building that
maybe they didn't do all they could in the offseason
to put this team in the best position to win,
And so Mike McCarthy deserves the opportunity, as Dak Prescott
put it, to do it on his terms. We'll see,
but certainly there appears to at least be an opening
a possibility that Mike McCarthy could return.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
We still have to just let this play out.
Speaker 5 (14:34):
When we have these conversations with folks around the league
with regard to the teams that underperformed and the teams
that we know the coaches coming in were on the
hot seat, you start to get the sense that like, oh,
it's a mess here, Oh it's a mess there, and
there's really no direction here, and you can tell it's coming,
and there's just some of the guys that have already
been fired. I don't get that with the Cowboys and
(14:56):
with Mike McCarthy, And it's not just what Jerry Jones
and Dak Prescot are saying publicly, it's what's being said
privately in this sense that they're really not that far
off and just things really didn't come together for them.
I know, you could look at it and say they
should have been more active in the off season, should
have done more to add to the roster, and how
could you be surprised at how they know? They just
feel like, for whatever reason, a lot of things were
(15:17):
out of their control, in large part because Dak Prescott
was injured and now isn't available for the stretch run here.
So I think when Jerry's given us what he's given
us publicly, that's kind of the vibe throughout the entire building.
So I would not be surprised if Mike McCarthy is back,
and we talk about all the time. I think he's
a good head coach and he deserves to continue there.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Off season long Dak Prescott contract drama, off season long
Ceedee Lamb contract drama, A lengthy Micah Parson's absence, a
lengthy DeMarcus Lorren's absence, a lengthy Brandon Cook's absence. Everybody's
got issues, okay, but the Cowboys have had more than
their share. And it goes back through this entire year.
Here we shall see again. I think we had to
wait one year, like a week and a half for
(15:58):
Jason Garrett to figure out that he was no longer
the coach of the Cowboys. I would think Jerry wants
this to go a little bit faster, but stay tuned
for that here in the coming weeks. All right, So.
Speaker 8 (16:07):
Listen, First of all, nobody said it was gonna be easy, right,
That's not what they said. So we got we gotta
clean up just a few things, and we take care
of some business here. We do that, these pennalies, Man,
we do that, and we're gonna be in great shape.
We've got to take care of that stuff, man, I mean,
those are things we can control. Other than that, we're
(16:28):
gonna enjoy this win the best way you possibly can.
And you're gonna you got a little time here, so
check your schedules. We'll get on a normal week next week.
Check your schedules out. Use the time wisely, stay out
of trouble. How about those Chiefs.
Speaker 5 (16:45):
Yeah, the Chiefs that play Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
I think they play six out of seven. So yeah,
a normal week for the Chiefs is a welcome break
from the chaos. And they've experienced Bridget Condon. Always a
welcome sight to see her with the show.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Here.
Speaker 5 (17:00):
The Chargers facing the Chiefs again. The first matchup feels
like an eternity ago. Okay, that was what week four.
I believe these two teams met and was a close game.
Chiefs scored a touchdown late to win it. What are
the Chargers saying about the rematch with Kansas City?
Speaker 9 (17:13):
Yeah, look, Mike, I talked to a bunch of different
players in that win in the locker room after the
Falcons game on Sunday, and they all said the same thing.
We are so excited to get another chance. They thought
that that was a game they had against the Chiefs
and it just slipped away. Remember they were leading ten
nothing and then the Chiefs went on to score seventeen
unanswered points. I talked with Khalil Mack in the locker
(17:34):
room Sunday and he said, this is what we want.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
Another opportunity.
Speaker 9 (17:37):
It's a great challenge. He called them a disciplined football team,
saying they don't do things to hurt themselves, especially late
in the game. So it's gonna take everything that they
have to get ready to try and beat that Kansas
City Big Division rival. But keep in mind the Chargers
defense leads the league in sacks with twenty three sacks.
Patrick Mahomes, this is really interesting. He's been sacked five
(17:57):
or more times in back to back games. Before those
two games, Mike, he had only been sacked five or
more times once in his career, so they feel like
maybe this is an opportunity to get after him. And
remember they'll also have Derwin James back who did not
play in that Week four matchup. Joe Alton Shawn Slater
two offensive linemen also didn't play in that Week four matchup,
and they should be there on Sunday as well.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Gotta be feeling good about that.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
If you getting all that, Amo Beck, if you are
the Chargers, no JK. Dobbins get on the Gus bus
with Gus Edwards and Kimani Vidal. How do they find
success the Chargers without JK.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Dobbins in this offense.
Speaker 9 (18:33):
Well, look, they're gonna need to run the ball that
lost to the Chiefs week four. They only ran the ball,
I believe, fifty five yards and that was a big issue,
right In order to win games, this Chargers team has
to find success in the run game, and it's gonna
come from Gus Edwards, of course, because JK. Dobbins is
out on ir with that knee injury. I went up
to Gus Edwards in the locker room, and I'm gonna
(18:53):
be honest, it was one of the first times that
I've ever met him in person, and he had like
a very stern look on his face, and I said,
are you okay, And He's like, yeah, this is kind
of just who I am. But he also said to me,
you know, maybe it's because I'm I'm kind of upset, like, yeah,
he won the game, but he's such a competitor. He said,
I feel like I always have something to prove, and
he was mad that he did not contribute to his
(19:15):
liking in that game. Of course, they only had fifty
six rushing yards. He had just six carries thirty two
rushing yards. But you could tell in talking with him Mike,
that there was a fire in his eyes, like he
wants to be that guy for this Chargers team, especially
now without JK.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Dobbins out.
Speaker 9 (19:31):
So hopefully another full week of practice in this system
he can get back to doing what he did last season.
Remember he had thirteen touchdowns with the Ravens a season ago.
Speaker 5 (19:42):
They're very serious on that, Gus Bus stay behind the
yellow line, Bridget Bridget Condon love the insight. I appreciate
you always being here on the Insiders.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Thank you very much. Judy.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Well, maybe somebody from that game will be the AFC
Offensive Player of.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
The Week next week. But this week the worst kept surprise.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
I mean Josh Allen, the obvious winner, Buffalo Bill's quarterback
Josh Allen for that great game in the snow that
clinched the AFC East.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
Maybe he'll be the MVP too. Let's hear from Josh Allen.
Speaker 10 (20:22):
It's no different this week than it was last week.
We're just again, we're having fun doing what we do.
At the same time, we're very intentional about what we're doing.
And it's the same want to know each and every
week mindset that we've had throughout the season, and that's
what we're going to continue to have. The amount of
guys that come in on Monday and Tuesday is by
(20:43):
far and away the most I've seen since I've been here.
Guys that just love being around the building, love being
around each other. And again, I think that's part of
the reason why we've been having the success that we've had.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
Guys are bought in, welcome in our cam Wolf to
talk more about the Buffalo Bills. You know, Cam, I
think at the start of the season, most of us
thought this was going to be a bit of a
transition year for the Bills. They got rid of a
lot of veteran players, recognizable names, They went really young,
They remade their wide receiver room.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
How on earth have they done this.
Speaker 11 (21:20):
Judy, you hit it on the nail.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Bill's GM.
Speaker 12 (21:22):
Brandon Bean told me transition year, but not off year.
A month ago, he said, a lot of people wrote
us off, but the biggest thing we lost was names
and captains, and people on the outside may have focused
too much on that.
Speaker 11 (21:35):
He said.
Speaker 12 (21:35):
It took a target off of us a little bit nationally.
But what I love about us is our DNA, our
ability to adjust. And you talked about some of those names.
You lose a Stefan Diggs, you lose some defensive names
like a Jordan Warrior or Micah Hyde or Trey Davius White.
And they're still clenching the assees for the fifth straight year.
Speaker 11 (21:53):
They first team to clench a division.
Speaker 12 (21:56):
They look like a top Super Bowl contender even through
all the change.
Speaker 11 (22:00):
And you heard Josh Allen talk about the camarati of Buffalo.
Speaker 12 (22:04):
He said also in that press conference, I put the
onus on myself to show how much fun we have
in the games, because Buffalo itself gets a bad rap
because of the snow. But our team, we have a
certain bomb that feels special. And we saw that after
there went over the forty nine ers. You got Sean
McDermott and Josh Allen doing snow angels on.
Speaker 11 (22:22):
The field after a press conference. That's Buffalo.
Speaker 12 (22:25):
And when you got to go to play Buffalo in
January in Orchard Park, it is going to be a
very difficult challenge.
Speaker 11 (22:31):
And I mentioned some of those names earlier.
Speaker 12 (22:33):
They did get to welcome back one of their key names,
of the past. Micah Hyde signed with the practice squad today.
He's a guy who's the hard and soul of the
defense for the last seven years, has been dealing with
a neck injury, contemplating retirement, but he's coming back on
the practice squad and McDermott was very clear saying he
has very little expectations for Micah Hyde.
Speaker 11 (22:52):
They're happy with Taylor rat and DeMar Hamlin, but maybe
he could be that.
Speaker 12 (22:55):
Voice, that veteran voice that helps everyone get to that
Super Bowl run has been desperately waiting to get.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
You know, when a team clinches this early, you always
wonder if they can maintain the pitch they've been at now.
Certainly the Bills are going to be worried about playoff seating,
so they still have something to play for. But how
does Josh Allen stay at the level he has been
playing at? Make out the Rams this week? Again, They've
got a few games ahead of them that you know
(23:24):
might not have implications Judy.
Speaker 12 (23:26):
He might also have an MVP award to taste these
last few weeks as well, to give.
Speaker 11 (23:30):
Him a little bit of motivation.
Speaker 12 (23:31):
It's interesting talking about Josh Allen because his numbers are
lower than what he's had in previous years. But talking
to some Bills players this week, they say this is
the best year he's had as a pro. And you
ask them why, and they talk about his decision making
and his trust and his teammates.
Speaker 11 (23:45):
We talked about no Stefan Diggs.
Speaker 12 (23:47):
There's a lot of questions of how Josh would interact
with different receivers.
Speaker 11 (23:51):
Well, he has.
Speaker 12 (23:52):
Allowed them to eat instead of putting all on his
shoulders and being the superman quarterback that often gets them
in trouble. He's had a career low turnovers, He's making
the smart decisions, taking less hits, and he's become that
reliable guy no matter what. That's why they are one
of the top contenders in the league. And I think
as you look at this Rams game this week, this
is another example for the Bills team to show that trust,
(24:15):
that accountability with their offense. They should run the ball
this week with James Cook and Ray Davis against a
Rams defense that has struggled to stop the run. They've
done that well Buffalo this year. Can they go back
to the run even though they're trying to get a
Josh Allen the MVP Award This will be a good
test for them cross country. We talked about the AFC
East five straight titles. They love that, but they put
(24:36):
the hats away. They have in mind trying to host
a playoff game, getting that one seed and ultimately getting
to the super Bowl. They know they got to go
through Kansas City, but it's going to be really tough
for Kansas City going Orchard Park if they can find
their way to that one seed.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
Ken, Well, thank you very much, And when we return,
we're going to talk about another monster matchup AFC North
round Steelers. Russell Wilson coming off his best game really
since the Heyday in Seattle.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
When we return, little separation being created by the Steelers
atop the AFC North despite that loss that they took
not that long ago against the Browns nine and three,
game and a half up on the Baltimore Ravens. The
(25:28):
Bengals just continuing to scrap and try to stay in
this thing. Welcome back to the Insiders, Tom Pelsero, now
joined by our buddy Steve White.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Pittsburgh has been doing this.
Speaker 1 (25:39):
Steve without one of their horror players on defense, but
it sounds like corner Mike Comlin, Alex Heismith should be
back this week against the Browns.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
What kind of impact can he make?
Speaker 13 (25:50):
Well, he could make a significant impact. Remember when the
Steelers played the Browns just two weeks ago in the
Snow Globe Snow Globe game up in Cleveland.
Speaker 11 (25:58):
I was there.
Speaker 13 (25:59):
They only got one glove on Jamis sacked him one
time in that entire game. So now you add someone
like Alex Highsmith, who's missed three games with that high
ankle sprain, to give the Steelers their full complement of
edge rushers.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Not gonna be Heighsmith, TJ.
Speaker 13 (26:13):
Watt, and then Nick Krbig, who's done a great job
filling in for high Smith, could be in there with
Preston Smith. That come with all kinds of different combinations.
Speaker 11 (26:22):
So again, the high Smith TJ.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
Watt combination.
Speaker 11 (26:25):
Remember TJ.
Speaker 13 (26:26):
Watt might have something to say to Miles Garret because
Miles Garrett had something to say about TJ. Watt after
that game a couple of weeks ago. Just having that
great edge play is important for this defense.
Speaker 11 (26:36):
But let's not let this get overlooked.
Speaker 13 (26:38):
The best player on the Steelers defensive front for the
past few games has been thirty five year old defensive
tackle Cam Hayward. Fifteen of his fifty tackles in the
season have come in the past three games.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Three tackles for loss.
Speaker 13 (26:51):
Talk to some folks who think he's playing the best
football of his career, that's a big statement. But he
is playing exceptionally well right now. To set up those
guys on the edge.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Just looked up the forecast fifty degrees and mostly Sonny Steve,
come on, what are we doing?
Speaker 2 (27:05):
You're not gonna top the snow globe game.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Can we at least get December football weather in Pittsburgh?
Apparently not. Jameis Winston doesn't matter. Is it snowing, is
it raining? Is it bright and sunny? He's gonna chuck it.
He's gonna throw it all over. A lot of them
will go to his guys, some will go to.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
The other guys.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
It's one of the fascinating careers Steve that we've seen
in the NFL, and it does seem like, for better
or worse, the Browns are feeding off the energy Jamis
brings to the table.
Speaker 13 (27:32):
And Tom I love that setup like that because Jamis
is going to chuck it, because that's what the.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Browns are having to do.
Speaker 13 (27:39):
They are not running the ball well at all. In
their last five games, they've only had three rushing touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
And that was when they played the Steelers.
Speaker 13 (27:48):
And guess what that was the one game of the
last five when Jameis Winston has not thrown it at
least forty one times. In that game, their pass to
run ratio was twenty eight eight to twenty seven. The
rest of those past five, the past five games are
the four games outside of that five Jameis Winston has
thrown at least forty one times. You are throwing it
(28:10):
sixty six percent plus times per game. The offensive line
we saw he gets Denver the other night. They're just
not getting the push and they're forcing Jamis to throw
it at this incredible rate. Remember he threw it fifty
eight times against a Denver Broncos of course afterwards he
was asking the Lord to deliver him from throwing pick sixes.
If they can get some of that pass run balance
(28:32):
that they had against the Steelers, maybe things should come
more in hand like they did in that snow Globe game.
Even though Tom it's going to be fifty degrees and
maybe better weather to throw the ball around the yard.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Maybe Jamis can throw in a prayer for some of
that snow once again, since that was his finest moment
so far as.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
A Cleveland Brown.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
I'm all for it, as long as you're not standing
in it this time around, Steve Whites, thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
You know, it feels like forever since the Chicago Bears
last played, but of course it was only Thanksgiving. An
awful lot has happened since then. An awful lot has
happened to Caleb Williams in his rookie season.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
Just look at what that says.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Caleb Williams will become this sixth quarterback selective first overall
to have multiple head coaches in his rookie season. Mattieberflus,
of course, was fired after the debacle on Thanksgiving, and
they will go forward with Thomas Brown in Chicago. Let's
hear from Caleb on the coaching change.
Speaker 14 (29:32):
There's a human part of it, and then you know,
the business side has to kick it in and say,
you know, I understand it. You know, I don't you know,
I don't really have you know, control of it, but
I you know, I have to roll the punches and
I have to understand and move on and try and
help this team way the best win the best way
that I can. And you know, from there we have
to you know, you have to separate human aspect of
(29:53):
it and business X but aspect of it when you're
in the building and you know, trying to be out
there in the field and focus and go there and
when games with these guys and then you know, off
the field, there's a human aspect of it of you know,
like like damn this, you know it's you know, he's
he's not going to be in the building and things
like that. So it's tough, but I got to move on,
got to get going with these guys in San fran
(30:15):
and focus on, you know, coming out with the win.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
Welcome back, Bucky Brooks and Mark Ross.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
Bucky, I want to start with you because this is
obviously not ideal for any quarterback to have multiple head
coaches in the season, let alone a rookie quarterback.
Speaker 4 (30:32):
How do they keep.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
Developing Caleb Williams while they're also starting a head coaching search.
Speaker 15 (30:39):
Well, look, I'll say this, I've heard a lot of
good things about Thomas Brown before he even got to Chicago,
and I think some of those things will continue to
be revealed and Thomas Brown, you have an old school
coach who works with new school players, meaning the things
that you've heard from Thomas Brown when you talked about
we want to major on the things that matter coachability, accountability, dependability,
(31:00):
leader of men type conversations. And so when you do that,
you got to challenge Kayleb Williams, Hey, we got to
tighten up some of this loosey goosey play that you
have from the pocket. But I'm gonna help you by
doing some things that really work for you. Some of
the things that you did in USC some of the
things designed to get the.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Ball out of your hands.
Speaker 11 (31:16):
But I'm gonna challenge.
Speaker 15 (31:18):
You to play at a higher level because when you're
a young player, sometimes you need to rain that in
a little bit before you allow him to have the
freedom to do all of the things that he's capable
of doing.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Thomas Brown gives him that.
Speaker 15 (31:30):
I think it actually will help in his development. Sometimes
you need a little old school coach to kind of
bring out the best of a new school player.
Speaker 16 (31:39):
Bucky Right and Thomas Brown's old school back. When I
scouted him as a running back from Georgia, I mean
he was an old school back, so he's an old
school personality and for Kayleb Williams, this could be, as
you mentioned, a good breath of fresh air for him,
just to get a new voice and to get him
just going a little bit. And the biggest issue that
I've seen with him is the consistency. And that's just
(32:02):
not unique to him, but most young quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
It's the consistency.
Speaker 16 (32:06):
And you've seen the flashes of why he's the first
pick in the draft. You've seen the unbelievable plays. You've
seen him play games where you're saying, you know what,
this is the guy. But ultimately it's just too much
up and down. It's too much consistencies, too many air
throws as you just saw right there. So if Thomas
Brown is the guy to get him going with that
consistency could be, but it really is ultimately falls on
(32:27):
Caleb Williams. A lot of the personnel flaws aren't going
to change. The schematic change. The schematic changes could help
him a little bit, but it's really all about Caleb
and saying, you know what, I've got to get more
consistent attention to detail and build for next year. This
is not about the Bears. This year and what they're
going to do. It's about getting Caleb Williams mind right
in game right for the long haul.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
Judy, All right, let's turn our attention to Kirk Cousins.
The Atlanta Falcons have lost three in a row. Cousins
has thrown six interceptions no touchdown passes during that year,
and he is coming off a four interception game, and
he has a rookie sitting behind him waiting in the wings.
Let's hear from Cousins about his performance.
Speaker 17 (33:11):
Yeah, that's kind of a challenge always in pro football
is being able to kind of get back up off
the mat and get back up and going and and
you know, and try to, you know, put together a
much stronger performance and get back on the right track
as quickly as you can.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
And so.
Speaker 17 (33:28):
You know, it's not the first time, unfortunately that I'll
have to have had to have done that, but you know,
certainly it's always something you're aware of in pro football
that you got to do, and this week will be
no different.
Speaker 11 (33:41):
All Right.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
Mark Pennix is a first round pick. Obviously, Cousins is
in a bit of a slump. The team is in
a bit of a slump right now.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
How long do.
Speaker 4 (33:50):
You think the lease should be for Kirk Cousins right now?
Speaker 16 (33:54):
Well, Judy, I think he's got this game against Minnesota,
really how I've been looking at it, and this could
be the best or worst case for him, going against
his forward team and Brian Flores. You know he's going
to break the house. They know him better than anybody.
And the limitations that Kirk Cousins has right now is
really facing that pressure and moving around.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
You know, he's never the most.
Speaker 16 (34:13):
Mobile, but coming off that Achilles buggy, I just see
a very limited guy and you know Flores that want
to say he's got to prove he can beat us.
And that arm strength is not there either, So those
elements are really at his at a hindrance for him.
And with the history, so the on the field play
is not there right now, he's costing them games. But
then the history of Kirk Cousins, even at his best,
(34:34):
was never really that guy to say, let me go
carry a team into the playoffs or go win playoff
games one and four in the playoffs. And here you
have not just a first round pick, but the eighth
pick in the draft, a guy who was so experienced
and won a lot of games, and that's why he
was taken there to say he has all the experience
and he can step in. And when you look at
rookie quarterbacks like Jayden Daniels and bow Knicks and what
they're doing, you should say the Falcons, we can't afford
(34:57):
to keep losing games with kirk Cousins. We got to
put this guy here to try to salvage it.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
Buck.
Speaker 15 (35:02):
Hey, Mark kirk Cousins better be glad he's not a
baseball player on the Dodgers, because Dave Roberts would be
bringing in the lefty.
Speaker 4 (35:09):
We're gonna bring in Michael Pennington.
Speaker 15 (35:10):
We're gonna get this thing going because we want to
see if we can salvage the season. All the buzz
in Atlanta was about Michael Pennick during the preseason. They
kept him under rep so we couldn't see him, but
when you talk to coach and you talked to players,
there was an energy about what this guy is able
to do. Now, it's not ideal in the middle of
the playoff run to say, hey, we're gonna drop the
rookie quarterback in there, but at some point, the talent
(35:33):
is the talent, and if you have a more talented
player that is ready to play.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
You have to put him in. And so Kirk Cousins
will get another opportunity against Brian Flores and his homecoming.
Speaker 15 (35:43):
But I'm telling you, I think Michael Pennix is in
the bullpen warming up. We're looking to see him come
running out with his favorite music and see if he
can save the day for the Atlanta Falcons.
Speaker 4 (35:55):
Okay, this is a Mett's household.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
We don't talk about the La Dodgers, thank you, Bucky.
Speaker 11 (36:01):
Said.
Speaker 3 (36:02):
And when we return, we're going to talk about the
first episode of Hard Knocks. That's Joe Burrow. He said,
the one thing on the show that I think made
a lot of us go, wait, what did he just say?
Speaker 18 (36:13):
When we return, the Steelers begin the game amped up,
but high intensity is no guarantee of a fast start.
We're down in three.
Speaker 2 (36:30):
Wilson intercepted.
Speaker 16 (36:32):
It's picked off by Taylor Prints work in the Sanma.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Taylor print f Girl that does tuck down Bagels.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
Huge play on the opening defensive possession for Cincinnati.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
That's Fairs all day.
Speaker 15 (36:50):
You see Cam Taylor brind who struggled recently, but on
that play he gets physical with George Pickens.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Early Pickens goes to the ground.
Speaker 18 (36:57):
The football wasn't out yet, but I think it's legal
use of hands on the defense.
Speaker 19 (37:01):
Hey, bro, came to find us today. I need you
to stay with me. Hey this isd I gonna decide
I'll come in the game, and I go decide they'll
come to game. Look at me? You alright, alright, let's go.
Speaker 15 (37:14):
Hey you?
Speaker 10 (37:15):
Why are they.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
Not come to ride that? They'll get you another one?
Speaker 18 (37:21):
Knowing what's coming and stopping it aren't the same thing.
Speaker 12 (37:29):
Pickets On slips out, stop the Pitsburger, the elusive George Pickens,
What what is it?
Speaker 2 (37:39):
I'm a Steeler's answer, Nita A.
Speaker 19 (37:46):
Good response, good job.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
Tremendous inside stuff from the first episode of the in
season Hard Knocks, covering the AFC North, Tom Pella, Sero,
Judy Batista, Mike Carol follow back here on the Insiders. Mike,
You're text this morning was the first one I got
regarding how good this episode was.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
What did you enjoy so much?
Speaker 5 (38:07):
Seeing Mike Tomlin and these defensive assistants literally game plan,
watch film. All right, we gotta do this, we gotta
do phenomenal, excellent. They're also cutting back and forth between
Pittsburgh and Cincinnati meeting rooms. I put this out on
X earlier today. It felt like Rocky and Drago training
for the fight.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
And then Roy.
Speaker 5 (38:24):
Isfan, the assistant offensive line coach for the Browns, talking
to his offensive line.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Nobody touches the chief. The chief is Jamis Winston. Then
he goes and hey, chief, and you see Jamis, just
shoot up.
Speaker 5 (38:35):
What you can do, get rid of the ball beyond
your read It was a phenomenal, great episode, great star
hard knecks.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
Judy I liked.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
Actually we just showed that snippet of Tomlin talking to Pickens.
I think that's like great insight into how coaches motivate
and take care of players. And then obviously Joe Burrow
telling his teammates that he bought the batmobile.
Speaker 4 (39:00):
So many follow up questions. I trust that the Bengals
beat reporter will be all over this unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (39:06):
Is that it?
Speaker 4 (39:07):
Oh my gosh, that's it? Is he gonna do it?
Speaker 12 (39:11):
What do you do?
Speaker 2 (39:12):
Do you wait till the batmobile get to go down
the red carpet?
Speaker 4 (39:15):
I don't think you can try.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
What do you do with the bamobile? You can't drive
it on the street. You're definitely getting arrested for that.
You just now you got to buy like acres of
land to it up over there. We'll see tomorrow
The Chiefs have punched their ticket to the playoffs, but
it ain't over yet. In the AFC West, will the
Chargers keep things interesting with a win on Sunday night
and get closer to their own playoff return.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Our bridge at Condon will tell.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
You how La can get a w Cowboys won two
in a row to keep their own playoff hopes alive
and a prominent voice in the locker room now throwing
his support behind it potential Mike McCarthy contract extension. Here
what Dak Prescott is saying about his head coach's future
in Dallas. Cayler Williams already on his second head coach
(00:45):
with Thomas Brown said to make his debut on Sunday
at San Francisco.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Bucky Brooks and.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Mark Cross will be here to show you how the
Bears in their rookie QB can make the most of
these next five weeks.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Winning the game for.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
The first time mid October would certainly be an nice star.
Welcome inside with the insiders alongside Judy Matizta and Mike Garafullo.
I am Tom Pelisero. We are now on the eve
of Week fourteen.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
In the NFL.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
It starts out with a tasty one on Thursday Night football,
the Lions and the Packers. We got so much to
get into over the next hour, but we begin with
some breaking news tonight. After hearing the appeal today, join
the appointment Appeals Officer Ramon Foster has upheld the three
game suspension for Texans linebacker Aziz al Shire for repeat
(01:40):
violations of the NFL's rules on player health and safety,
including that hit right there on Trevor Lawrence in Sunday's
game that sparked a brawl.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Al Shire then continued the brawl.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Taking off his helmet get into it with Jaguars players.
The Texans made abundantly clear their frustration with what they
felt was the inconsistency of that punishment for al Shier. However,
Ramone Foster, who is jointly appointed by the NFL and
the NFLPA, upheld it, which means al Shire now will
miss games against the Dolphins, Chiefs, and Ravens for he's
(02:15):
eligible to return for the Week eighteen finale at Tennessee. Meanwhile,
the Jaguars placing their quarterback Trevor Lawrence on injured reserve.
He is, according to our Ian Rappaport, expected to have
surgery to repair that left ac joint injury that he
had suffered about a month or so ago.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Returned to the field this week.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Now off the field once again, done for this season.
Plenty of time to recover for twenty twenty five. Judy
A lot to unpack here as he's al Shire officially
now will be out three games. Trevor Lawrence not to
be seen again this season. Impact on Houston in a
playoff chase here, what do you got.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Well, significant impact on Houston. I'm frankly surprised that the
suspension was not reduced. In the past, they have reduced
suspensions on appeal, but in this case, it was clear
that the league felt there was a pattern of behavior
and not just a pattern of behavior previously. But then
after the hit on Trevor Lawrence, you know, the behavior
(03:18):
during the brawl contributed to the scope of the suspension.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
So I'm not surprised that Ramon Foster upheld it.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
And again it is worth emphasizing that the hearing officers
are jointly appointed by the League and the Players Association.
As for Trevor Lawrence, this just seemed like the smart
thing to do. First of all, he'd had the shoulder
injury for a while. But also this just seems to
remove any pressure on the player for trying to.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Get back with the team.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
I go back to what the Dolphins did when Tua
was concussed. They put them on ir because they didn't
want the player to feel any pressure to try to
rush back, and I think that's the smart thing to
do in Trevor law case, especially because the Jaguars are
out of the playoff picture anyway, There's absolutely no reason
why he should be trying to get back.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
On the field, and this does.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Give them the opportunity now to get the surgery done
and get him on the road to recovery.
Speaker 5 (04:15):
Judy, I feel like early on, when the NFL really
started to levy suspensions for hits that occurred on the field,
these things were reduced, let's say, were a game reduced
to a large fine, or maybe the number was brought
to These have started to stick now. And you're right
to point out that the arbitrator, Ramon Foster in this
case and in every case when it comes to on
(04:35):
field discipline, is jointly appointed by both the league and
the union. So even the independent evaluators here are agreeing
with the fact that these hits on the head of
a quarterback late hits when a quarterback is sliding, it
needs to be upheld. Derwin James suspension earlier this year
upheld as well, so everybody understands the importance of making
(04:57):
sure that it's not just lip service. And they say
they're trying to make the game safer, but hits like
this won't be tolerated in Aushaire now has to be
careful moving forward because it'll be an increased number the
next time if and when he does get suspended for
something that's happening on the field. That is the way
that they approach this discipline. So upheld here sucks for
Trevor Lawrence, who knows what the coaching situation is going
(05:20):
to be like once he comes back. We're all gonna
be watching the Jaguars the day after their final game
to see if, indeed shot Con does make a move
at the coaching position. So a lot to see what's
gonna happen with the Jaguars before opening day next year.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Also bears mentioned here.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
The Jaguars very much in the running for the number
one overall pick. Now, no, they will not have their
starting quarterback for the balance of this season, although they
did perform better when Mac Jones took over last week.
The former Patriots starter a big opportunity for him over
these next five games. He can become a free agent
again here for the first time in his young career,
(05:57):
so maybe it can show enough that he gets an
two in twenty twenty five. A lot of teams still
have something to play for in twenty twenty four, including
three teams that can wrap up playoff berths this week.
The Lions, if they win tomorrow night against the Packers,
would wrap up a playoff berth. They'd still have some
work to do to clinch the division. The Vikings would
(06:17):
need a win and some help. There's also a bunch
of scenarios involving ties. We've only got enough space on
TV for a couple of these things. It's far more
complicated Eagles, same deal. A lot of things that have
to happen. If you look at the standings right now,
all three of those teams borring a total collapse are
getting in.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
The Ravens probably are getting in the playoffs, but they've
got a lot of.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Drama surrounding that team right now, including what ended up
today being a one game suspension for wide receiver Deontay
Johnson for conduct detrimental to the team. Garifalo, you broke
this news earlier today, it was apparent something was a miss.
Now once again Deontay Johnson find himself in hot water.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (06:58):
John Harball comment both on Sunday after the game and
then Monday as well, saying basically that he needed to
gather more information and the information was how they were
going to handle this. They made it clear in the
statement from Eric DaCosta, their general manager, that Johnson refused
to go into the game on Sunday against the Eagles,
so he'll miss this game coming up against the Giants.
(07:19):
Let me add a little bit of context. This was
late in the game. This was after Rashad Bateman had
gotten hurt. Johnson hadn't played early in the game. I
don't know if it was mid to late fourth quarter.
I'm trying to remember the timeline, but it was well
into the second half, and by that point he was
upset with the fact that he hadn't seen the field.
And I would say, when you bring in Deontay Johnson
(07:40):
to have him be receiver for receiver five, this is
a guy who we've seen in the past once the
football wants to be involved, so they made the trade
with the Panthers. They didn't give much up, but you've
got Lamar Jackson. After the game, when I asked him
about I said, are you going to have a conversation
with Johnson to keep his head right? And he said,
this is a guy that we need out there. We
want him out there. So at this point we got
(08:02):
to see how it's going to play out because this
is a one game suspension. It could have been higher,
but it's a one game suspension here and now how
do you handle this moving forward? Does Johnson come back
and say, all right, I'm locked in. I'll serve my
one game. We had a packer suspension earlier this year
was JayR Alexander.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
No, no, it was last year. It was one of the receivers.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
This year, Tom, you'll correct me when I'm done talking
and you come back and you're locked in a Romeo Dobbs.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
I think, so that's a possibility.
Speaker 5 (08:27):
Could be something like that, or this could be something
that continues to go on. And then who knows, if
the author Jackson ever sees the field with the Ravens
will keep an eye on it and let you know
how it goes.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
Quite a year for Deontay Johnson, a contract year, no less.
Part of the reasoning the Steelers had when they traded
him away was they want to be a run first
football team. There weren't gonna be a ton of targets.
They need to get the ball to George Pickens a lot.
So he gets himself traded to the Panthers. Not happy there,
gets himself traded to the Ravens for virtually nothing. Now
not happy there. You could say, maybe this is how
(08:58):
to kill your career in ten steps. But he's a
wide receiver. He's twenty eight years old. He's still very talented.
Somebody's going to give an opportunity. He's going to have
to make the most of his opportunity down the stretch
more than likely. In Baltimore, the Bucks have had their
own wide receivers issues this year, mostly involving injuries. Chris
Godwin done for the season, Mike Evans is back, Baker
Mayfield a near miss. He said he thought he tore
(09:20):
his achilles on this play. Initially, it turned out he
was just spiked in the back of his leg.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
He was We're in a big old sleeve.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
During his press conference earlier today, was listed as a
full participant if they had had practice today, and he
is ready for the stretch run.
Speaker 6 (09:37):
Our mentality right now is that we're in playoff mode.
We got to win out to get in and just
see what happens. So it's one game at a time mentality,
much like last year, and we're going to continue to
say it. We're sitting Obviously we'd like to have a
better record than we do now, but we're still saying
that we control our own destiny. So that's outside factors
right now don't really matter if we don't take care
(09:58):
of business. So it's got to be how do we
win this game, and it's got to be like that
every week on out.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Take a look at the NFC playoff picture at this stage,
you see the Bucks and the Falcons technically are tied
atop the NFC West, still five games to go throughout
the tie breakers for the moment. Here, you've got the
Saints who are still hovering somewhere in that mix as well.
Somebody's going to host a playoff game, probably against the
team like the Vikings.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Or the Packers.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Will be interesting to see as we get closer to
that what those matchups look like here, Judy, But there's
a lot going on right now in the NFC South,
and nobody has exactly distinguished themselves on a consistent basis.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
No, and the Bucks are alive because the Falcons did
not have the opportunity to pull ahead. They went into
a slump exactly when the Bucks had their big injury
situation on offense, so they couldn't exploit that chance to
pull away in the NFC South and as a result,
the Bucks are in it. Keep in mind they have
lost both games to the Falcons, though, so they would
need to be clear of the Falcons to win the division.
(11:03):
They have a very very manageable schedule. They manage to
get through Mike Evans is back. That certainly has given
them a boost. They got the big performance from Bucky Irving.
That is a big boost too. The problem for the Bucks, incredibly.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Is their defense.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Their defense has been an issue all season, particularly the
past defense. They're not getting very many sacks, they're not
getting many interceptions. They give up a whole lot of
air yards, a whole lot of yards after catch. That
is where they have to tighten things up again. They
have a really manageable schedule. They've got the Raiders this week,
but then they.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
Have the Chargers.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
You probably don't want to see Justin Herbert when your
pass defense is struggling. Still, the Bucks are alive, very
much alive, in a very top SA turvy NFC South.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
There is only one team eliminated entirely in the NFC.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
That is the New York Giants.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
The Dallas Cowboys, despite a lengthy losing streak and losing
their starting quarterback, they need a lot to happen, but
there's still in it. They've won a couple of games
in a row. You heard Jerry Jones speaking on the
radio last week saying doesn't think it's crazy at all
to consider the idea of extending Mike McCarthy's contract, and
Dak Prescott himself seems to like that idea.
Speaker 7 (12:17):
I believe in him wholeheartedly. I think he definitely deserves
a chance another another contract, and a chance to coach
this team, amongst and and condact.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
I guess you can say.
Speaker 7 (12:31):
More influence on his terms may be maybe a good
way to say it, but but I whole heartedly believe
in him. The guys who won a Super Bowl. I
know Jay's attested to that there's not many guys or
coaches who have done that, and to have one that
can do it from experience, and I know how valuable
he's been for me.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
You can read at NFL dot com slash Batista for
all of Judy's top ten coaches with the most to
prove over the of the twenty twenty four season. Mike
McCarthy up there, just behind Brian Dable and Mike McDaniel
a top that list. Mike McCarthy's proven a lot Judy
over his close to two decades as an NFL head coach.
(13:12):
This is one of those moments where there's a lot
of stressors from a lot of different reasons, including the
injury situation and the fact that Jerry Jones is once
again allowing his head coach to coach out the final
year of his deal.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Well, let's start with the fact that it is never
a bad thing for a head coach to have the
endorsement of the franchise quarterback. That carries some weight in
most organizations, and in this organization where they just re
upped Dak Prescott, it certainly should carry some weight. What
would carry even more weight would be winning some more games.
They have revived themselves, They've won a few, They've got
(13:49):
some winnable.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Games ahead of them.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
If they can keep that going and at least show
that they continue to play hard for Mike McCarthy, that
obviously would help. But the bottom line here is, ultimately
this is going to be what Jerry Jones feels at
the end of the season. Is there somebody out there
available who he is enamored with, who he thinks could
do a better job as the head coach of the
(14:11):
Dallas Cowboys. Is there a recognition in the building that
maybe they didn't do all they could in the offseason
to put this team in the best position to win,
And so Mike McCarthy deserves the opportunity, as Dak Prescott
put it, to do it on his terms. We'll see,
but certainly there appears to at least be an opening
a possibility that Mike McCarthy could return.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
We still have to just let this play out.
Speaker 5 (14:34):
When we have these conversations with folks around the league
with regard to the teams that underperformed and the teams
that we know the coaches coming in were on the
hot seat, you start to get the sense that like, oh,
it's a mess here, Oh it's a mess there, and
there's really no direction here, and you can tell it's coming,
and there's just some of the guys that have already
been fired. I don't get that with the Cowboys and
(14:56):
with Mike McCarthy, And it's not just what Jerry Jones
and Dak Prescot are saying publicly, it's what's being said
privately in this sense that they're really not that far
off and just things really didn't come together for them.
I know, you could look at it and say they
should have been more active in the off season, should
have done more to add to the roster, and how
could you be surprised at how they know? They just
feel like, for whatever reason, a lot of things were
(15:17):
out of their control, in large part because Dak Prescott
was injured and now isn't available for the stretch run here.
So I think when Jerry's given us what he's given
us publicly, that's kind of the vibe throughout the entire building.
So I would not be surprised if Mike McCarthy is back,
and we talk about all the time. I think he's
a good head coach and he deserves to continue there.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Off season long Dak Prescott contract drama, off season long
Ceedee Lamb contract drama, A lengthy Micah Parson's absence, a
lengthy DeMarcus Lorren's absence, a lengthy Brandon Cook's absence. Everybody's
got issues, okay, but the Cowboys have had more than
their share. And it goes back through this entire year.
Here we shall see again. I think we had to
wait one year, like a week and a half for
(15:58):
Jason Garrett to figure out that he was no longer
the coach of the Cowboys. I would think Jerry wants
this to go a little bit faster, but stay tuned
for that here in the coming weeks. All right, So.
Speaker 8 (16:07):
Listen, First of all, nobody said it was gonna be easy, right,
That's not what they said. So we got we gotta
clean up just a few things, and we take care
of some business here. We do that, these pennalies, Man,
we do that, and we're gonna be in great shape.
We've got to take care of that stuff, man, I mean,
those are things we can control. Other than that, we're
(16:28):
gonna enjoy this win the best way you possibly can.
And you're gonna you got a little time here, so
check your schedules. We'll get on a normal week next week.
Check your schedules out. Use the time wisely, stay out
of trouble. How about those Chiefs.
Speaker 5 (16:45):
Yeah, the Chiefs that play Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
I think they play six out of seven. So yeah,
a normal week for the Chiefs is a welcome break
from the chaos. And they've experienced Bridget Condon. Always a
welcome sight to see her with the show.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Here.
Speaker 5 (17:00):
The Chargers facing the Chiefs again. The first matchup feels
like an eternity ago. Okay, that was what week four.
I believe these two teams met and was a close game.
Chiefs scored a touchdown late to win it. What are
the Chargers saying about the rematch with Kansas City?
Speaker 9 (17:13):
Yeah, look, Mike, I talked to a bunch of different
players in that win in the locker room after the
Falcons game on Sunday, and they all said the same thing.
We are so excited to get another chance. They thought
that that was a game they had against the Chiefs
and it just slipped away. Remember they were leading ten
nothing and then the Chiefs went on to score seventeen
unanswered points. I talked with Khalil Mack in the locker
(17:34):
room Sunday and he said, this is what we want.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
Another opportunity.
Speaker 9 (17:37):
It's a great challenge. He called them a disciplined football team,
saying they don't do things to hurt themselves, especially late
in the game. So it's gonna take everything that they
have to get ready to try and beat that Kansas
City Big Division rival. But keep in mind the Chargers
defense leads the league in sacks with twenty three sacks.
Patrick Mahomes, this is really interesting. He's been sacked five
(17:57):
or more times in back to back games. Before those
two games, Mike, he had only been sacked five or
more times once in his career, so they feel like
maybe this is an opportunity to get after him. And
remember they'll also have Derwin James back who did not
play in that Week four matchup. Joe Alton Shawn Slater
two offensive linemen also didn't play in that Week four matchup,
and they should be there on Sunday as well.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Gotta be feeling good about that.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
If you getting all that, Amo Beck, if you are
the Chargers, no JK. Dobbins get on the Gus bus
with Gus Edwards and Kimani Vidal. How do they find
success the Chargers without JK.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Dobbins in this offense.
Speaker 9 (18:33):
Well, look, they're gonna need to run the ball that
lost to the Chiefs week four. They only ran the ball,
I believe, fifty five yards and that was a big issue,
right In order to win games, this Chargers team has
to find success in the run game, and it's gonna
come from Gus Edwards, of course, because JK. Dobbins is
out on ir with that knee injury. I went up
to Gus Edwards in the locker room, and I'm gonna
(18:53):
be honest, it was one of the first times that
I've ever met him in person, and he had like
a very stern look on his face, and I said,
are you okay, And He's like, yeah, this is kind
of just who I am. But he also said to me,
you know, maybe it's because I'm I'm kind of upset, like, yeah,
he won the game, but he's such a competitor. He said,
I feel like I always have something to prove, and
he was mad that he did not contribute to his
(19:15):
liking in that game. Of course, they only had fifty
six rushing yards. He had just six carries thirty two
rushing yards. But you could tell in talking with him Mike,
that there was a fire in his eyes, like he
wants to be that guy for this Chargers team, especially
now without JK.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Dobbins out.
Speaker 9 (19:31):
So hopefully another full week of practice in this system
he can get back to doing what he did last season.
Remember he had thirteen touchdowns with the Ravens a season ago.
Speaker 5 (19:42):
They're very serious on that, Gus Bus stay behind the
yellow line, Bridget Bridget Condon love the insight. I appreciate
you always being here on the Insiders.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Thank you very much. Judy.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Well, maybe somebody from that game will be the AFC
Offensive Player of.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
The Week next week. But this week the worst kept surprise.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
I mean Josh Allen, the obvious winner, Buffalo Bill's quarterback
Josh Allen for that great game in the snow that
clinched the AFC East.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
Maybe he'll be the MVP too. Let's hear from Josh Allen.
Speaker 10 (20:22):
It's no different this week than it was last week.
We're just again, we're having fun doing what we do.
At the same time, we're very intentional about what we're doing.
And it's the same want to know each and every
week mindset that we've had throughout the season, and that's
what we're going to continue to have. The amount of
guys that come in on Monday and Tuesday is by
(20:43):
far and away the most I've seen since I've been here.
Guys that just love being around the building, love being
around each other. And again, I think that's part of
the reason why we've been having the success that we've had.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
Guys are bought in, welcome in our cam Wolf to
talk more about the Buffalo Bills. You know, Cam, I
think at the start of the season, most of us
thought this was going to be a bit of a
transition year for the Bills. They got rid of a
lot of veteran players, recognizable names, They went really young,
They remade their wide receiver room.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
How on earth have they done this.
Speaker 11 (21:20):
Judy, you hit it on the nail.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Bill's GM.
Speaker 12 (21:22):
Brandon Bean told me transition year, but not off year.
A month ago, he said, a lot of people wrote
us off, but the biggest thing we lost was names
and captains, and people on the outside may have focused
too much on that.
Speaker 11 (21:35):
He said.
Speaker 12 (21:35):
It took a target off of us a little bit nationally.
But what I love about us is our DNA, our
ability to adjust. And you talked about some of those names.
You lose a Stefan Diggs, you lose some defensive names
like a Jordan Warrior or Micah Hyde or Trey Davius White.
And they're still clenching the assees for the fifth straight year.
Speaker 11 (21:53):
They first team to clench a division.
Speaker 12 (21:56):
They look like a top Super Bowl contender even through
all the change.
Speaker 11 (22:00):
And you heard Josh Allen talk about the camarati of Buffalo.
Speaker 12 (22:04):
He said also in that press conference, I put the
onus on myself to show how much fun we have
in the games, because Buffalo itself gets a bad rap
because of the snow. But our team, we have a
certain bomb that feels special. And we saw that after
there went over the forty nine ers. You got Sean
McDermott and Josh Allen doing snow angels on.
Speaker 11 (22:22):
The field after a press conference. That's Buffalo.
Speaker 12 (22:25):
And when you got to go to play Buffalo in
January in Orchard Park, it is going to be a
very difficult challenge.
Speaker 11 (22:31):
And I mentioned some of those names earlier.
Speaker 12 (22:33):
They did get to welcome back one of their key names,
of the past. Micah Hyde signed with the practice squad today.
He's a guy who's the hard and soul of the
defense for the last seven years, has been dealing with
a neck injury, contemplating retirement, but he's coming back on
the practice squad and McDermott was very clear saying he
has very little expectations for Micah Hyde.
Speaker 11 (22:52):
They're happy with Taylor rat and DeMar Hamlin, but maybe
he could be that.
Speaker 12 (22:55):
Voice, that veteran voice that helps everyone get to that
Super Bowl run has been desperately waiting to get.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
You know, when a team clinches this early, you always
wonder if they can maintain the pitch they've been at now.
Certainly the Bills are going to be worried about playoff seating,
so they still have something to play for. But how
does Josh Allen stay at the level he has been
playing at? Make out the Rams this week? Again, They've
got a few games ahead of them that you know
(23:24):
might not have implications Judy.
Speaker 12 (23:26):
He might also have an MVP award to taste these
last few weeks as well, to give.
Speaker 11 (23:30):
Him a little bit of motivation.
Speaker 12 (23:31):
It's interesting talking about Josh Allen because his numbers are
lower than what he's had in previous years. But talking
to some Bills players this week, they say this is
the best year he's had as a pro. And you
ask them why, and they talk about his decision making
and his trust and his teammates.
Speaker 11 (23:45):
We talked about no Stefan Diggs.
Speaker 12 (23:47):
There's a lot of questions of how Josh would interact
with different receivers.
Speaker 11 (23:51):
Well, he has.
Speaker 12 (23:52):
Allowed them to eat instead of putting all on his
shoulders and being the superman quarterback that often gets them
in trouble. He's had a career low turnovers, He's making
the smart decisions, taking less hits, and he's become that
reliable guy no matter what. That's why they are one
of the top contenders in the league. And I think
as you look at this Rams game this week, this
is another example for the Bills team to show that trust,
(24:15):
that accountability with their offense. They should run the ball
this week with James Cook and Ray Davis against a
Rams defense that has struggled to stop the run. They've
done that well Buffalo this year. Can they go back
to the run even though they're trying to get a
Josh Allen the MVP Award This will be a good
test for them cross country. We talked about the AFC
East five straight titles. They love that, but they put
(24:36):
the hats away. They have in mind trying to host
a playoff game, getting that one seed and ultimately getting
to the super Bowl. They know they got to go
through Kansas City, but it's going to be really tough
for Kansas City going Orchard Park if they can find
their way to that one seed.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
Ken, Well, thank you very much, And when we return,
we're going to talk about another monster matchup AFC North
round Steelers. Russell Wilson coming off his best game really
since the Heyday in Seattle.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
When we return, little separation being created by the Steelers
atop the AFC North despite that loss that they took
not that long ago against the Browns nine and three,
game and a half up on the Baltimore Ravens. The
(25:28):
Bengals just continuing to scrap and try to stay in
this thing. Welcome back to the Insiders, Tom Pelsero, now
joined by our buddy Steve White.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Pittsburgh has been doing this.
Speaker 1 (25:39):
Steve without one of their horror players on defense, but
it sounds like corner Mike Comlin, Alex Heismith should be
back this week against the Browns.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
What kind of impact can he make?
Speaker 13 (25:50):
Well, he could make a significant impact. Remember when the
Steelers played the Browns just two weeks ago in the
Snow Globe Snow Globe game up in Cleveland.
Speaker 11 (25:58):
I was there.
Speaker 13 (25:59):
They only got one glove on Jamis sacked him one
time in that entire game. So now you add someone
like Alex Highsmith, who's missed three games with that high
ankle sprain, to give the Steelers their full complement of
edge rushers.
Speaker 2 (26:12):
Not gonna be Heighsmith, TJ.
Speaker 13 (26:13):
Watt, and then Nick Krbig, who's done a great job
filling in for high Smith, could be in there with
Preston Smith. That come with all kinds of different combinations.
Speaker 11 (26:22):
So again, the high Smith TJ.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
Watt combination.
Speaker 11 (26:25):
Remember TJ.
Speaker 13 (26:26):
Watt might have something to say to Miles Garret because
Miles Garrett had something to say about TJ. Watt after
that game a couple of weeks ago. Just having that
great edge play is important for this defense.
Speaker 11 (26:36):
But let's not let this get overlooked.
Speaker 13 (26:38):
The best player on the Steelers defensive front for the
past few games has been thirty five year old defensive
tackle Cam Hayward. Fifteen of his fifty tackles in the
season have come in the past three games.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Three tackles for loss.
Speaker 13 (26:51):
Talk to some folks who think he's playing the best
football of his career, that's a big statement. But he
is playing exceptionally well right now. To set up those
guys on the edge.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Just looked up the forecast fifty degrees and mostly Sonny Steve,
come on, what are we doing?
Speaker 2 (27:05):
You're not gonna top the snow globe game.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Can we at least get December football weather in Pittsburgh?
Apparently not. Jameis Winston doesn't matter. Is it snowing, is
it raining? Is it bright and sunny? He's gonna chuck it.
He's gonna throw it all over. A lot of them
will go to his guys, some will go to.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
The other guys.
Speaker 1 (27:23):
It's one of the fascinating careers Steve that we've seen
in the NFL, and it does seem like, for better
or worse, the Browns are feeding off the energy Jamis
brings to the table.
Speaker 13 (27:32):
And Tom I love that setup like that because Jamis
is going to chuck it, because that's what the.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Browns are having to do.
Speaker 13 (27:39):
They are not running the ball well at all. In
their last five games, they've only had three rushing touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
And that was when they played the Steelers.
Speaker 13 (27:48):
And guess what that was the one game of the
last five when Jameis Winston has not thrown it at
least forty one times. In that game, their pass to
run ratio was twenty eight eight to twenty seven. The
rest of those past five, the past five games are
the four games outside of that five Jameis Winston has
thrown at least forty one times. You are throwing it
(28:10):
sixty six percent plus times per game. The offensive line
we saw he gets Denver the other night. They're just
not getting the push and they're forcing Jamis to throw
it at this incredible rate. Remember he threw it fifty
eight times against a Denver Broncos of course afterwards he
was asking the Lord to deliver him from throwing pick sixes.
If they can get some of that pass run balance
(28:32):
that they had against the Steelers, maybe things should come
more in hand like they did in that snow Globe game.
Even though Tom it's going to be fifty degrees and
maybe better weather to throw the ball around the yard.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Maybe Jamis can throw in a prayer for some of
that snow once again, since that was his finest moment
so far as.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
A Cleveland Brown.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
I'm all for it, as long as you're not standing
in it this time around, Steve Whites, thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
You know, it feels like forever since the Chicago Bears
last played, but of course it was only Thanksgiving. An
awful lot has happened since then. An awful lot has
happened to Caleb Williams in his rookie season.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
Just look at what that says.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Caleb Williams will become this sixth quarterback selective first overall
to have multiple head coaches in his rookie season. Mattieberflus,
of course, was fired after the debacle on Thanksgiving, and
they will go forward with Thomas Brown in Chicago. Let's
hear from Caleb on the coaching change.
Speaker 14 (29:32):
There's a human part of it, and then you know,
the business side has to kick it in and say,
you know, I understand it. You know, I don't you know,
I don't really have you know, control of it, but
I you know, I have to roll the punches and
I have to understand and move on and try and
help this team way the best win the best way
that I can. And you know, from there we have
to you know, you have to separate human aspect of
(29:53):
it and business X but aspect of it when you're
in the building and you know, trying to be out
there in the field and focus and go there and
when games with these guys and then you know, off
the field, there's a human aspect of it of you know,
like like damn this, you know it's you know, he's
he's not going to be in the building and things
like that. So it's tough, but I got to move on,
got to get going with these guys in San fran
(30:15):
and focus on, you know, coming out with the win.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
Welcome back, Bucky Brooks and Mark Ross.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
Bucky, I want to start with you because this is
obviously not ideal for any quarterback to have multiple head
coaches in the season, let alone a rookie quarterback.
Speaker 4 (30:32):
How do they keep.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
Developing Caleb Williams while they're also starting a head coaching search.
Speaker 15 (30:39):
Well, look, I'll say this, I've heard a lot of
good things about Thomas Brown before he even got to Chicago,
and I think some of those things will continue to
be revealed and Thomas Brown, you have an old school
coach who works with new school players, meaning the things
that you've heard from Thomas Brown when you talked about
we want to major on the things that matter coachability, accountability, dependability,
(31:00):
leader of men type conversations. And so when you do that,
you got to challenge Kayleb Williams, Hey, we got to
tighten up some of this loosey goosey play that you
have from the pocket. But I'm gonna help you by
doing some things that really work for you. Some of
the things that you did in USC some of the
things designed to get the.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Ball out of your hands.
Speaker 11 (31:16):
But I'm gonna challenge.
Speaker 15 (31:18):
You to play at a higher level because when you're
a young player, sometimes you need to rain that in
a little bit before you allow him to have the
freedom to do all of the things that he's capable
of doing.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Thomas Brown gives him that.
Speaker 15 (31:30):
I think it actually will help in his development. Sometimes
you need a little old school coach to kind of
bring out the best of a new school player.
Speaker 16 (31:39):
Bucky Right and Thomas Brown's old school back. When I
scouted him as a running back from Georgia, I mean
he was an old school back, so he's an old
school personality and for Kayleb Williams, this could be, as
you mentioned, a good breath of fresh air for him,
just to get a new voice and to get him
just going a little bit. And the biggest issue that
I've seen with him is the consistency. And that's just
(32:02):
not unique to him, but most young quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
It's the consistency.
Speaker 16 (32:06):
And you've seen the flashes of why he's the first
pick in the draft. You've seen the unbelievable plays. You've
seen him play games where you're saying, you know what,
this is the guy. But ultimately it's just too much
up and down. It's too much consistencies, too many air
throws as you just saw right there. So if Thomas
Brown is the guy to get him going with that
consistency could be, but it really is ultimately falls on
(32:27):
Caleb Williams. A lot of the personnel flaws aren't going
to change. The schematic change. The schematic changes could help
him a little bit, but it's really all about Caleb
and saying, you know what, I've got to get more
consistent attention to detail and build for next year. This
is not about the Bears. This year and what they're
going to do. It's about getting Caleb Williams mind right
in game right for the long haul.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
Judy, All right, let's turn our attention to Kirk Cousins.
The Atlanta Falcons have lost three in a row. Cousins
has thrown six interceptions no touchdown passes during that year,
and he is coming off a four interception game, and
he has a rookie sitting behind him waiting in the wings.
Let's hear from Cousins about his performance.
Speaker 17 (33:11):
Yeah, that's kind of a challenge always in pro football
is being able to kind of get back up off
the mat and get back up and going and and
you know, and try to, you know, put together a
much stronger performance and get back on the right track
as quickly as you can.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
And so.
Speaker 17 (33:28):
You know, it's not the first time, unfortunately that I'll
have to have had to have done that, but you know,
certainly it's always something you're aware of in pro football
that you got to do, and this week will be
no different.
Speaker 11 (33:41):
All Right.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
Mark Pennix is a first round pick. Obviously, Cousins is
in a bit of a slump. The team is in
a bit of a slump right now.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
How long do.
Speaker 4 (33:50):
You think the lease should be for Kirk Cousins right now?
Speaker 16 (33:54):
Well, Judy, I think he's got this game against Minnesota,
really how I've been looking at it, and this could
be the best or worst case for him, going against
his forward team and Brian Flores. You know he's going
to break the house. They know him better than anybody.
And the limitations that Kirk Cousins has right now is
really facing that pressure and moving around.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
You know, he's never the most.
Speaker 16 (34:13):
Mobile, but coming off that Achilles buggy, I just see
a very limited guy and you know Flores that want
to say he's got to prove he can beat us.
And that arm strength is not there either, So those
elements are really at his at a hindrance for him.
And with the history, so the on the field play
is not there right now, he's costing them games. But
then the history of Kirk Cousins, even at his best,
(34:34):
was never really that guy to say, let me go
carry a team into the playoffs or go win playoff
games one and four in the playoffs. And here you
have not just a first round pick, but the eighth
pick in the draft, a guy who was so experienced
and won a lot of games, and that's why he
was taken there to say he has all the experience
and he can step in. And when you look at
rookie quarterbacks like Jayden Daniels and bow Knicks and what
they're doing, you should say the Falcons, we can't afford
(34:57):
to keep losing games with kirk Cousins. We got to
put this guy here to try to salvage it.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
Buck.
Speaker 15 (35:02):
Hey, Mark kirk Cousins better be glad he's not a
baseball player on the Dodgers, because Dave Roberts would be
bringing in the lefty.
Speaker 4 (35:09):
We're gonna bring in Michael Pennington.
Speaker 15 (35:10):
We're gonna get this thing going because we want to
see if we can salvage the season. All the buzz
in Atlanta was about Michael Pennick during the preseason. They
kept him under rep so we couldn't see him, but
when you talk to coach and you talked to players,
there was an energy about what this guy is able
to do. Now, it's not ideal in the middle of
the playoff run to say, hey, we're gonna drop the
rookie quarterback in there, but at some point, the talent
(35:33):
is the talent, and if you have a more talented
player that is ready to play.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
You have to put him in. And so Kirk Cousins
will get another opportunity against Brian Flores and his homecoming.
Speaker 15 (35:43):
But I'm telling you, I think Michael Pennix is in
the bullpen warming up. We're looking to see him come
running out with his favorite music and see if he
can save the day for the Atlanta Falcons.
Speaker 4 (35:55):
Okay, this is a Mett's household.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
We don't talk about the La Dodgers, thank you, Bucky.
Speaker 11 (36:01):
Said.
Speaker 3 (36:02):
And when we return, we're going to talk about the
first episode of Hard Knocks. That's Joe Burrow. He said,
the one thing on the show that I think made
a lot of us go, wait, what did he just say?
Speaker 18 (36:13):
When we return, the Steelers begin the game amped up,
but high intensity is no guarantee of a fast start.
We're down in three.
Speaker 2 (36:30):
Wilson intercepted.
Speaker 16 (36:32):
It's picked off by Taylor Prints work in the Sanma.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
Taylor print f Girl that does tuck down Bagels.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
Huge play on the opening defensive possession for Cincinnati.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
That's Fairs all day.
Speaker 15 (36:50):
You see Cam Taylor brind who struggled recently, but on
that play he gets physical with George Pickens.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Early Pickens goes to the ground.
Speaker 18 (36:57):
The football wasn't out yet, but I think it's legal
use of hands on the defense.
Speaker 19 (37:01):
Hey, bro, came to find us today. I need you
to stay with me. Hey this isd I gonna decide
I'll come in the game, and I go decide they'll
come to game. Look at me? You alright, alright, let's go.
Speaker 15 (37:14):
Hey you?
Speaker 10 (37:15):
Why are they.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
Not come to ride that? They'll get you another one?
Speaker 18 (37:21):
Knowing what's coming and stopping it aren't the same thing.
Speaker 12 (37:29):
Pickets On slips out, stop the Pitsburger, the elusive George Pickens,
What what is it?
Speaker 2 (37:39):
I'm a Steeler's answer, Nita A.
Speaker 19 (37:46):
Good response, good job.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
Tremendous inside stuff from the first episode of the in
season Hard Knocks, covering the AFC North, Tom Pella, Sero,
Judy Batista, Mike Carol follow back here on the Insiders. Mike,
You're text this morning was the first one I got
regarding how good this episode was.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
What did you enjoy so much?
Speaker 5 (38:07):
Seeing Mike Tomlin and these defensive assistants literally game plan,
watch film. All right, we gotta do this, we gotta
do phenomenal, excellent. They're also cutting back and forth between
Pittsburgh and Cincinnati meeting rooms. I put this out on
X earlier today. It felt like Rocky and Drago training
for the fight.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
And then Roy.
Speaker 5 (38:24):
Isfan, the assistant offensive line coach for the Browns, talking
to his offensive line.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Nobody touches the chief. The chief is Jamis Winston. Then
he goes and hey, chief, and you see Jamis, just
shoot up.
Speaker 5 (38:35):
What you can do, get rid of the ball beyond
your read It was a phenomenal, great episode, great star
hard knecks.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
Judy I liked.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
Actually we just showed that snippet of Tomlin talking to Pickens.
I think that's like great insight into how coaches motivate
and take care of players. And then obviously Joe Burrow
telling his teammates that he bought the batmobile.
Speaker 4 (39:00):
So many follow up questions. I trust that the Bengals
beat reporter will be all over this unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (39:06):
Is that it?
Speaker 4 (39:07):
Oh my gosh, that's it? Is he gonna do it?
Speaker 12 (39:11):
What do you do?
Speaker 2 (39:12):
Do you wait till the batmobile get to go down
the red carpet?
Speaker 4 (39:15):
I don't think you can try.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
What do you do with the bamobile? You can't drive
it on the street. You're definitely getting arrested for that.
You just now you got to buy like acres of
land to it up over there. We'll see tomorrow
Hosts And Creators
Judy Battista
Tom Pelissero
Ian Rapaport
Mike Garafolo
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