April 3, 2024 • 43 mins
- COUNTDOWN TO THE DRAFT - in the NFC EAST!
- Cowboys, Eagles, Giants & Commanders
- Team by Team, we're examining team strengths & weaknesses
- Draft Needs, Offseason storylines & Hard Truths
- NFL HALL OF FANS - Cowboys, Commanders, Giants & Eagles
- We're throwing open the doors of the TA Hall of Fans!
- Fans from each of the NFC East teams share their hopes & dreams & worries ... along with the kind of uncensored & unpopular hot takes that ONLY a TRYE FAN could ever deliver
- Plus ... a predicted order of finish in the NFC East
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
NFL Total Access is a production of the NFL in
partnership with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
It's Wednesday, April third, and you're listening to NFL Total Access,
the podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
That is the voice of today's special guest who doesn't
have a lot of time, so I won't bore him
with a long dissertation on why I love him and
why you should too. So let's get right to it
and welcome back to the pod, the Sweet Potato Kid.
The host of NFL Total Access the broadcast, Mike.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yam, So, I'm already derailing this thing even though we're
short on time. One, there's some weirdness going on in
this studio. I almost like feel like I'm hearing like a.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
TV shows sound weird past.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
My voice is screwed ten minutes before I walked in
here as something happened.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
I don't know what we're doing. I actually know what
halfway through was.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I know you you were yelling at some young PA.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Probably was I was probably yelling at somebody. I thank
you so much for making the time for us today,
and here's how we're going to spend it.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
I am your host.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
NFL Network Senior writer Andrew Levian on today's show, our
countdown to the Draft continues in the Division of the
Giants and the Eagles and the Commanders and of course
the defending Division champion Cowboys, Dallas, DC, Philly and New
York just like I pictured it. Say what you will
about the NFC East. It's got market size for days,
(01:14):
doesn't it. And a pretty glorious history too, which I'm
going to expound upon shortly. We're also going to open
up the doors to the NFL Hall of Fans. Cue
the music, that's right, it's all part of our countdown
to the Draft. Today we're going to hear from a
group of fans who are known for being demure, reluctant
to share their opinions, hushed tones when they do. You know,
(01:36):
fans from Philly, New York, DC, and Dallas, NFC East
fans clamoring outside the Hall of Fans only if you
are getting in, all have something to say. Oh please
kill that music, Thanks Coop. Okay, Mike cam you are
a prince for giving us a few minutes. Mike has
actually just done a round of interviews couple of NFL prospects.
You can catch all of Mike's work on the THA broadcast.
(01:59):
That's Weakeday seven pm Eastern, four pm Pacific on NFL network.
I don't like just calling out Eastern time names. We
live on the West West coast. Here we gonor the four.
It's four pm on the West coast. You make the
transition when you hear that East Coast to plus one
or the other. Yeah, okay, carry the one. But so
grateful for your time on a day when you should
(02:20):
be here. It's NFC East Day. You gotta be in
the chair. So let's get to work now. Before we
get your fan take Hostetler, fanboy, let's get to a
note or two of analysis from you, some overarching thoughts
to start. NFC West has the Niners, the North has
the Lions. There's your top performing NFC teams from a
(02:41):
season ago.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
The Cowboys win the East, but.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
They crash out spectacularly at home to the Packers in
the wildcard round. Eagles limp into the playoffs. They still
get a five seed, but they crash out on the
road to Baker's boys in Tampa Bay. My commander's stutter early.
Your Giants suffer all season, then you lose Saquon to
the Eagles. Your most hated division rival, Mike Yam, everybody
(03:05):
has one makes them better. Cowboys keep saying they're all in,
but no one can figure out what that means. Commanders
are becoming something might be good. We'll see, but it's
a moment of creation, and I should think, Mike, that
the Giants are similar, just in a more advanced stage
of creation. All to say, the division seems open to me,
(03:26):
it seems uncertain, unclear, no discernible hierarchy, not right now.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Maybe bottom two, top two.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
I don't know. Forgive the link to us for the
bottom two, but there's something blurry for me about the
NFC East, Mikeyam, Can you help me clear it up?
Speaker 2 (03:41):
I read it the same way that you do. Now
if you and I think you're gonna end up asking
me how I think the division is going to shape up.
I think that this NFC East is truly gettable, like right,
like we've talked about it, the amount of years that
there hasn't been a repeat champion or division winner, I
should say, in like twenty plus years. It is something
along those lines.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
And two thousand and four that was the last year
of that little mini streak that the Eagles had, Yeah,
and they won three straight.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
That's going to stay intact because the one thing and
I wouldn't say I feel overly confident. I don't feel
great about Dallas repeating as division shorts again, right, so
it is gettable. I still think Philly's the leader of
the pack. But I think the way that you characterize
Washington and New York is dead on. This is a
commander's team that spent about one hundred million dollars in
the offseason, right like they are becoming something. And I
(04:29):
do agree with you. The Giants quite frankly, a six
win campaign a year ago. I didn't see happening because
of what we saw two seasons ago. But when you're
throwing out no disrespect Tommy DeVito as your quarterback, it's
how Rod Taylor goes down and Daniel Jones goes down.
Like there's some problems that are there and an offensive
line that was a revolving door. The Giants should have
(04:50):
been better, but because of some injuries. And it sounds
like a cop out, but because of injuries. I think
that's why we're talking about the Giants having the six
overall pick with a six win campaign.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
And of course we've got the number two over we're
all pick with a four win campaign, so certainly the
bottom in terms of the you know, the class of
the outfit, we were the bottom two for sure.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
We were certainly the worst of the.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Group, assuming whatever it's Caleb or Jaden or any of
these guys. Yes, you're a Commander's fan. Yes, if I
said to you, they get the guy that you like,
whoever that player is at quarterback, knowing the money that
they've spent in this entire offseason, knowing that the division
is gettable. Would you be surprised if Washington won the NFC?
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Eas?
Speaker 1 (05:26):
I actually would, because we're not a quarterback away, right.
I feel like you guys are closer. You have a
proven quarterback. For whatever your thoughts are on Danny Dimes
and for whatever thoughts you have about what the Giants
should do or could you in the draft. I think
you are closer to that team that surprised people two
seasons ago than we are to the team that surprised
people three seasons ago. Right, So I would be surprised. Yes,
(05:47):
I would be surprised if we went from worse to first.
I don't think we're a candidate for that this year,
but I wouldn't be surprised if your Giants do win
the NFC East, such is the volatility of this division.
Let's look more closer at this division top to bottom,
and I want you to put your analyst hat on
for me. So raigning champion Dallas Cowboys, Mike Caam, what
is the strength of this team right now?
Speaker 2 (06:09):
It's offensive firepower, especially at the wide receiver spot. I mean,
CD and Dak are arguably on the short list of
one of the best one two punches in the entire NFL.
I think the other major storyline is Dak is essentially
playing in a proven year there he has highly motivated.
Jerry Jones made news, you know, a couple of weeks ago.
We had it for you on this podcast and on
(06:30):
TA the broadcast. Dak's not getting that contract extension. We
threw it out there. What would need to happen for
that to take place? David Carr said, go win a
super Bowl if that's the bar, which I get has
always gone to the bar for team like Dallas Cowboys.
The fact of the matter is it's been basically twenty
five some odd twenty eight years since that's happened. That's
(06:50):
a problem. So I would tell you their strength is
a highly motivated Dak Prescott, who was on the shortlist
of the MVP last year with one of the best
wide receivers. Hopefully they offensive line, which is still their
one of their biggest needs. This is a good offensive
line draft class. And who's running out of the backfield
this year.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Well that's a good question to be answered at some
point very soon, hopefully for Cowboys fans. But in your estimation,
the biggest strength is something illusory, it's not quite tangible.
It is motivation, it is desperation in a what you
call a gettable NFC East. What's the weakness, what's the.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Worry that they're not going to be able to figure
out this offensive line? You know, you go back twenty
eight years and we have enough of our friends and
colleagues here at NFL Network that play that played against
those Dallas Cowboys teams and understand that even just post
what that those Super Bowl runs were, they always established
everything with being tougher and more physical upfront on the
(07:45):
offensive line, and the reality is that has not been
the case for the last ten to fifteen years. You
can point to injuries, you can point to a change
in demeanor. I don't know what it is, but they
got to figure out that aspect of their game because
if that offensive line is good, we've seen other teams
because of scheme, be able to compensate for lack of
a household name in that backfield. So to me, it's
(08:06):
still that question do they have the pieces because to
basically make a run in the postseason. There are some
teams that I would point to this year, the Jets
being one of them, where I felt good about them
heading into last year and now this year feel great.
I think the roster for the Jets, for example, is
better than last year's roster. Unfortunately, I think Dallas's roster
(08:27):
from a year ago is better than the one as
of right now that we're going to be looking at
in Week one.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Very interesting.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
At their best in the old days so to speak, Cowboys, yes,
defined by a dominant run game. Let's turn to an
Eagles team that can say the same. Recently, when they
were at their best in a Super Bowl winning campaign,
it was an O line. Really it was a D
line and an O line. But on the offensive side
of things, they have an O line that hey is
creating images and silhouettes that we simply haven't been used
to allah the tush push. Is this Eagles team good
(08:56):
enough for a run? What is their strength?
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I think the Eagles are the I had him a
year ago as the favorite, and here's what I would
tell you. There was some deficiencies. And I don't know
because I'm not in that locker room and I don't
cover that team in that city. I can't tell you
about some of the here saying the gossip and the
rumors or get the pulse of that locker room. Something
is missing there right like, I don't know if you
would point to an offensive and a defensive coordinator removed
(09:22):
from that Super Bowl team and that's the reason why
there was a collapse. But this roster is still really good.
The one issue, and maybe I'm jumping ahead on your question,
is what we saw from a defensive standpoint, especially with
the linebacking crew and more specifically that secondary. They've addressed that.
We can talk about CJ. Gardner Johnson if you want,
but to me, the Eagles are still the favorite. They
(09:44):
have a guy right now who two years ago could
have been the MVP and ended up being Mahomes and
it wasn't. Jailen Hurts and they have a guy that
they just brought in, highly motivated who I would make
an argument if you said to me, who's your MVP
for this year, it's usually a quarterback. I'll just be
different and I'll tell you say, Kwon Barkley's got an
opportunity and a chance to be the lead MVP this season.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Okay, So Eagles the class of the outfit according to
Mike em in the NFC East, they are simply a
better team top to bottom. They still have a good
roster in spite of results that suggests to us that
they're unraveling.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
No, they still have probably the best roster in the
NFC East.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Rather, even with the retirements of Fletcher Cox and Jason
kelce what's the biggest worry, what's the biggest weakness you
hinted at? It is that what you think? Yeah, the
biggest their biggest problem.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
I think it's two things. When you have two veteran
guys on your offensive and your defensive lines that are
no longer there because of retirement with Fletcher Cox and
obviously Jason Kelcey, how do you replace that? That's an
issue to me. Now, Devil's advocate will tell you that
you had two leaders in that locker room, and things
still spiraled out of control. Maybe it just is what
(10:51):
it is. I think the biggest concern that I have
is that intangible I look at the roster. I think
it's really good. I don't know enough about that that
makeup in that locker room, because it's really the only
thing that I would point to that explains what we
saw down the stretch of last season.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Okay, let's turn now to your New York Giants. We
talked a little bit about them at the beginning of
the show, but let's get a little bit more granular here.
From your perspective as a Giants fan, but also as
an NFL analyst and host, what is the good with
the Giants?
Speaker 2 (11:19):
I feel like the defense is in a pretty good spot.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Yeah right now.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Young players. Obviously, Kevon Thibodeau I think is a budding
superstar in the league if he's not already there. Brian
Burns acquisition was big time and in a lot of
ways I think solidifies the mentality of what you can
expect now. Mink Martindale, who's not there, he was there.
DC loved to blitz. It didn't necessarily pay dividends last year.
I get that, but with Burns and Thibodeau, I feel
(11:42):
great about getting pressure on the quarterback without having exactly
I hate losing McKinney. Xavier McKinney was an unsung hero
now with the Packers. By the way, I know the
Eagles were hot after him. That would have been crazy
that McKinney and Barkley both end up therek Thank god
that doesn't happen. God, that's the fan and me saying
that that was an involuntary.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
And have your you know, your most heated, hated division
rival get stronger.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
It's your own expense.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
That would be a tough pill to swallow. But the
reality is I do feel about the defense, and more
specifically the front front side of that defense with those
two guys.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
Okay, that's the good. What's the problem?
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Oh God? Offensive line people will tell you it's playmakers,
and I get it. You know, the Giants fans, they'll
tell you they want Neighbors or Harrison or roma Dunze
in the draft at six. Maybe it is a quarterback.
I know you've talked about it on this podcast. David
Carr has mentioned it. Other people have said, Hey, the Giants'
willingness to move up for a quarterback. I get all
of those things. To me, everything that you do in
(12:40):
football centers around what is happening with the offensive line.
I think it dictates everything in the game, even what
defenses want to do. So I think that's the most
important thing. And when you got dudes coming off the
bench literally who were watching the game on TV, yes,
and getting thrust into a starting lineup, because that's what
happened last year for the Giants offensive line, offensive line.
Offensive line has to be fixed.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Washington Commander's four wins last in the NFC East a
season ago, and yet in times of change, there's some anxiety,
without a doubt, but there's also some hope. The hope
for Commanders fans should come from who, from where?
Speaker 3 (13:14):
From what?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
I think new leadership is helpful, right?
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Is it that simple? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (13:20):
I mean I saw Dan Quinn make some comments which
would concern me if I was a Washington Commanders fan,
because I want a quarterback. But Marcus Marioto right now,
is QB one in inside that that quarterback room? Over
one hundred million dollars that are spent. Bobby Wagner, Frankieluvu
Jeremy Chin just to name a few, Austin Eckler on
the offensive side. So they have some playmakers both sides
of the ball that should help the.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Age of those guys worries me a little, and which
tells me, like for that price, but then what are
we doing right?
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Like that's what worries me. I want to know because
you made a comment, I said, hey, what would you want?
You felt like the team's not a quarterback away, and
yet when I look at the age, I.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Want to trade personally, I want to trade down.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
I want to stock.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
I want a team build, team building. Some people we
talked about this the other day. Yeah, some people team
build around a quarterback. If you've got your Patrick Mahomes,
then build around him. But if you don't, and they're
very rare, then build the team that. Like a rock
Party situation in San Francisco, Rock Purty steps into a
team that is ready to dominate, that is ready to
dominate on both sides.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Of the ball.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
And for all of his upside, and there's plenty of it,
he's a very good quarterback. He's a perfect guy to
plug into a team that is ready to go. Well, Washington,
you don't have your quarterback. I don't see the quarterback
at two personally, So build the team that becomes ready
to go for the quarterback who either does grow into
the job or is available at the perfect time that's
not this year. Okay.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
So if that's the case, then what do you do
with that pick? Because what dan Quinton alluded to is
what you're saying, they might not stick at two and
they might trade out. But if that's the case, and
I look at the age of some of the guys
that I just made reference to, are you trying to
win now? You're trying to win down the road? Because
if you're trying to win down the road, then should
you have spent one hundred Well.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
All right, my take on it actually fights the business
in the off season. So we need to be more
in win now mode. So maybe I need to get
my head round not trading down. Take the best quarterback
at two and let's ride. If I was a Commander's fan,
mikem I'd be most nervous about what. Look.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
I think the obvious thing is is quarterback. But I
will say this, you have reset the organization, new front office,
new head coach. And if that's the case, there's time
to make mistakes. You don't necessarily feel the pressure to
rack up wins right now. And I think with that
in mind, that's a win. But still to me is
the biggest question around. You know, what's the team identity
(15:37):
right now? Like what is the identity of your ball club?
And obviously there's been more investment made on the defensive
side with some of these free agent signings, and you
brought in a defensive minded head coach and Dan Quinn.
I think the Jerry's still out on them. I really do.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
We'll have a predicted order of finish in the NFC
East courtesy of Mike em coming up shortly, but first
time to let him in. We're opening the doors to
the NFL all the fans. Kill the music. Kill the music,
NFC East fans only, Please AFC East fans, You're gonna
get to you next time. What do these fans want
to see their teams do in the draft? What is
their biggest source of pride, what is their biggest source
(16:12):
of concern? And what is their team gonna do this year?
We got some bold predictions coming up next on NFL Total.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Access, the podcast.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
You are listening to NFL Total Access the podcast Andrew Lady,
a shaky voiced Andrew Lady with NFL Total Access, the
broadcast host the Sweet Potato Kid, Mike m Do you
like the nickname?
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Man, well roll, I had a million nicknames sweet potatoes.
One of them Yammer yams yammy mfy so mother is something? Yeah,
now you used to get that one too.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
It's our countdown to the twenty twenty four NFL Draft,
presented by bud Light. April twenty fifth is Round one.
That's a Thursday on NFL Network, NFL plus dot com.
We got you covered on all the NFL platforms. Twenty
three days from round one. We're going team by team,
division by division. AFC West and NFC West are in
the books. Eight teams down, twenty four to go. Today
we land on the NFC East, and Mike, before you
(17:11):
scoot out of here, let's get your predicted order of
finish in the NFC East.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Who wins it? Who blows it? What you got?
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Eagles one? I still think they're the favorite. They have
the best roster in the division.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
So the streak of an NFC East without a back
to back champion continues. How Thys won it last year.
You see the Eagles winning it this year.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
I do. I think Barkley is going to be a
monster for that football team.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
How much does that hurt?
Speaker 1 (17:35):
You?
Speaker 3 (17:35):
Say?
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Brutal? Look, I'm happy for him. Look, I think the
Giants candidly probably didn't necessarily appreciate him or just value
other spots on the football field might be the best
way to describe it, But I think it's Eagles one.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Do.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
I feel good about what the Giants potentially could do
if Daniel Jones is healthy and they get another playmaker,
whether it's Neighbors Harrison or Aroma Duns, I'd feel good
about that. Gotta feel you're out the offensive line that
got them to Dallas. Dax still scares me. I'll put
Dallas at three and the Commander's sorry, Drew.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
No, please get Eagles back on the perch, back on top.
According to Mike Yam, as.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
He sees it, what April be. First week of April.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
We're a long way off, but right now, Mike says,
the Eagles are in prime position to win the NFC East.
His Giants are in a position to move up a
spot and be the runner up. Runner up good enough
to get a wildcard spot. Yeah, yeah, yeah, hell actually
right Giants, I had two Cowboys three My commanders will
go back to back years in the cellar, so sees
(18:36):
Mike Yam.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Thank you for today, pal.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Now, no, you're the best, dude.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
You got to get out of here.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
You have a show to do.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
I have a topic, some friends waiting to get in here.
As we throw open the doors to the NFL Hall
of Fans, cute the music. Today we celebrate with those
of you who are fans in the NFC East. Cowboys
fans and blue and silver Giants fans with a red,
white and dark blue Hugh some burgundy and gold repped
(19:02):
of course, and the loudest contingent of all wearing midnight green.
NFC East fans strut like kings, and maybe they do
so because they are NFC East is actually the most
successful division in NFL history. Twenty two of the fifty
eight Super Bowls featured a team from the NFC East.
Thirteen of the fifty eight Super Bowls were one by
(19:24):
a team from the NFC East. That's better than one
in five. It is the most decorated division in NFL history,
by the way. The AFC West is second with ten titles,
Casey certainly doing their part to close the gap lately.
Something else that the NFC East is that no one
else is triumphant from top to bottom. This is more
(19:47):
than a profit sharing division. This is a burden sharing division.
Every one of you out there who is an NFC
East fan can claim at least one season of NFL supremacy.
There is no other NF division in which all four
teams have lifted a Lombardi Trophy. Dallas leads the way
with five titles. Let's try and remember that, he says
(20:10):
to self when we criticized the Cowboys so called streak
of disappointment. Yes, it's been what twenty seven to twenty
eight years, but they managed five Super Bowls in the
thirty years before. Not too shabby. Giants have won four
Super Bowls. Commanders have three, two of which, incidentally, did
you know this, two of which came during the only
two strike shortened seasons in NFL history. So you know,
(20:33):
you give us fewer games, we'll make the most of it.
In Washington, and the Eagles, of course, have chipped in
with a Super Bowl win as well, making the NFC
East a division of parody. You could argue, and this
detail actually makes the parody argument better than anything else.
No NFL division has gone longer than the NFC East
without a champion in back to back years. No one's
(20:57):
done it since the Eagles had that little mini streak
ended in four that's twenty years of passing the title
around in this NFC East and that's pretty impressive. Now,
does that mean that the Eagles, giants or commanders are due? Eh?
I don't actually know about that. Did you know this
that the NFC East can trace its origins to the
(21:19):
year nineteen sixty seven? Then it was called the Capital
Division because it had the two nations capitals inside it.
That's what inspired the title Philly as the og nation's
capital back in colonial and revolutionary times, and of course
DC the nation's capital since the Residents Act of seventeen ninety.
(21:39):
We all knew that right Anyways, The NFL Capital Division
originally had Washington, Philly, Dallas, and an expansion franchise from
LA that's Louisiana, LA called the Saints. And that was
the case for a couple of seasons, But then the
NFL merged with the AFL back in nineteen seventy and
the name changed to NFC East, and the Giants and
(22:00):
the Saint Louis Cardinals made it a table for five,
only three of which could accurately identify as teams in
the East.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
But there you go.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Then, in two thousand and two, the Cardinals moved to
the much more appropriate NFC West after the reshuffle that
gave us the current eight division structure. Okay, enough history,
let's get to the now. We are twenty three days
from the first round of the NFL Draft, so let's
start the clock now and continue our countdown in the
(22:29):
NFC East, starting with the defending NFC East champion, the
Dallas Cowboys. In twenty twenty three, the Cowboys were twelve
and five. That was good for an NFC East Division title.
They of course lost in the first round of the
playoffs in that wildcard round beat down at the hands
of the visiting Green Bay Packers. They also lost Dan
Quinn to their division rival Commanders. Dak Prescott, of course,
(22:52):
not offered an extension that one of the bigger stories
of the offseason team needs. According to NFL dot Com,
offensive tackle, running back, the inside of the O line, cornerback,
and wide receiver. Not that many picks only seven with
which to address their needs. In the first round, they
have the twenty fourth overall pick. They've got a second
round or a third round or a fifth round or
(23:13):
a sixth rounder, and two picks in the seventh round.
With that in our heads, let's open the doors to
the Hall of Fame and get some fans in here.
Fans like my boss Kingsley. Got to start with the Boss.
Kingsley says it will be the perfect draft if we
beef up the inside of the O line. A knowledgeable
Cowboys fan, his biggest source of concern what he calls
(23:34):
dax inability to finish.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
I think that's a really good description.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
His biggest source of pride a Micah Parson's motor that
Kingsley says keeps getting bigger. One of Kingsley's cohorts in
charge over here at NFL Media, Chris says that he
sees a draft that requires replacing our departed center, left tackle,
and running back, while adding a wide receiver and getting
(23:59):
help in the pass rush and at defensive tackle, to
which he then added translation, I'm worried den Boys may
be screwed. Chris is proudest of past Super Bowl wins
that even thirty years on feel pretty damn good. His
biggest worry the front office and the coaching staff, he said,
my best friend from all the way back in high
(24:19):
school days in Northern Virginia, Scott said, Andrew, I have
a rule that I don't talk about this team until
September as it opens old wounds. But I will break
that rule for my dearest friend. Thank you, Scott. I
love you, Bud.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Appreciate that very much.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Scotty says it'll be the perfect draft if we can
trade Dallas Cowboys relevance for a chip and cash for
a conquest.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
And he's serious.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
He didn't name check a player he wants. He says
his biggest worry is a front office that after fifty
years as a fan, Scott has stopped believing in. He
doesn't buy that the Cowboys are what they claim to be.
Quote all in on winning a title, but he is
a proud Cowboys fan, remains so, and his biggest source
of pride is as signed Roger Stallback jersey on his wall.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
I've seen it. It's pretty cool. Stallback, Scott says, did.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Everything the right way and continues to be the best
face of the franchise that we've ever had. It is
the ghosts of the past that keep Scott coming back
for more. Cowboys fan Sydney, right here in this building
said her biggest source of pride is the loyalty through
all the highs and the lows that come with being
a fan of this team, even when we are consistent.
(25:30):
She said, there is something about this team that keeps
me around, and Sidney admitted, look, I was born after
the most recent Cowboys Super Bowl victory, but says that
she holds onto her team's history with a great deal
of pride. Nonetheless, free agency losses at the top of
her worry list. Signing a long snapper and a linebacker
just isn't enough, she worries. She did remind me we
(25:51):
didn't have a terrible season, a decently good season, if
you're being honest, How do we keep that momentum? Which
listener I found very interesting. This is a team totally
dogged by some narrative of always falling short. But Sydney's right,
there is momentum to be ridden here in Dallas with
this Cowboys team. Really, by any winning NFL team, It's
hard to win in the NFL and the Cowboys are
(26:13):
a winning NFL team. We just tend not to talk
about that fact all that much. For Sydney, it'll be
the perfect draft if we get a dang running back
after losing Tony Pollard, she said, we have to rebuild
around that position.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
A little bit.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
Then she added, actually a lot. Oh, and find a
replacement for Tyler Badish at center. That would help too.
The last question I ask everybody about their team is
to finish the following sentence, I wouldn't be surprised if
my twenty twenty four Dallas Cowboys did what well in
this case, One Cowboys fan said, miss the playoffs and
(26:46):
blow the whole thing up. Another said, I wouldn't be
surprised if my twenty twenty four Cowboys had another high
and low season. History tends to keep repeating itself season
after season. With my guys, we tend to produce decently,
win well in the season, both on offense and defense,
but can never finish it out. A more hopeful note
from one fan who says the NFC championship game is
(27:09):
not out of reach. He said, there's never been a
better window to take advantage of play in the NFC
than right now. He said, Look, it's a two horse
race in the division, and he believes that the NFC
winner comes either from the East or the NFC West.
And finally, Cowboys fans said, I wouldn't be surprised if
the twenty twenty four Cowboys are the best regular season
(27:31):
team in the entire league. Dak Is on the quote
bet on myself last year of his deal, and CD
and other pieces can compete at a high level, but
it will likely be the same outcome with a coach
and players that struggle on the big stage.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Thank you, Cowboys fans.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
Let's keep that door open and let some Philadelphia Eagles
fans in here in twenty twenty three. This is a
team that posted on eleven and six record. Look more closely,
though they finished one to four in their last five,
that eleven and six record was good for second in
the NFC East. They got a fifth seed in the
playoff bracket, but lost in that wild card round game
(28:13):
to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The postseason news of notes well,
of course, Jason Kelcey and Fletcher Cox retired. NFL dot
Com identifies Eagles team needs as running back, wide receiver, cornerback, linebacker,
and edge rusher. They have eight picks in all with
which to address those needs, the twenty second pick of
the first round. They have two picks in the second round,
(28:35):
one in the fourth, three in the fifth, and one
in the sixth. And that takes us to the NFL
Hall of Fans where Eagles fans like Sydney say, draft
kool Aid McKinstry to help our secondary. We gave up
too many passing yards to quarterbacks last year. I think
we were last in the league, she said, And James
Bradbury had an off season. Nothing like some good training
(28:57):
camp competition to push each other to be better. For Sidney,
the secondary is primary her biggest source of pride right now.
Having signed Saquon Barkley and just Howie Roseman, how he
does his part to get talented players in the building
and on the team, and now it's up to the
coaches and players to deliver. Sidney's biggest concern. Will we
(29:18):
be able to pay DeVonta Smith the contract he deserves
next year? AJ and Jalen Hurts already on the books
with huge contracts. On field concern coverage over the middle
of the field and at the linebacker depth. We got
torched last year, Sidney said, over the middle and could
barely tackle. Eagles fan Christy, a former colleague here at
(29:39):
NFL Media, says her perfect draft sees a first round cornerback.
There's a theme here, listener. Christy is proudest of how
dedicated Eagles fans are to their team. She's proud of
how Eagles players appreciate it and embrace their flock of fans,
she said. Jason Kelsey is the perfect example. Christy's biggest
worry team chemistry after how last season ended, and of
(30:02):
course after losing Jason Kelcey and Fletcher Cox. Eagles fan
La Rosa says it'll be the perfect draft if we
select an offensive tackle. His pride comes from a corps
of veterans like Jason Kelcey and Lane Johnson and Brandon
Graham and the way that they lead young players, which
is why his biggest concern is now asking young players
(30:23):
to fill in for those vets. He sees a chance
for recent first round picks Davis and Carter to step
up and be Pro Bowlers. Eagles fan Chris old Jenks
says he wants a top three corner in the draft.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
There you go.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
He also says, if you have to trade up to
get it, then trade up to get it and make
sure to grab a speedy slot receiver in rounds two
or three. Chris says he is most proud to say
he rooted for a team featuring Jason Kelcey and Fletcher Cox.
He's so proud that those two guys play their whole
careers in Philly. He's hopeful for two new coordinators, but
(31:00):
he's worried about Saquon's health. Chris says, we paid him
a lot of money, and we won't win the big
games without him. Varying degrees of optimism from Eagles fans
I spoke to who when asked to finish the following sentence,
I wouldn't be surprised if my twenty twenty four Philadelphia
Eagles did what here's an answer season sweep against the Cowboys.
(31:20):
Jalen is three and three against the Cowboys, but has
yet to beat dak in Dallas. This fan believes that
with the addition of Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts gets over
that hump and does the double against Dallas. Another fan says,
I wouldn't be surprised if we draft an o lineman
in the first round and then find a way to
lose to the Cowboys in Dallas yet again. But other
(31:43):
Eagles fans see an NFC East title in their future,
and others still believe that there is a path to
the NFC Championship game coming up. On NFL Total Access
to podcast, from New York to DC, there are shouts
for serious change. They are loud and they are proud,
But what are they actually asking for. What should the
(32:03):
Giants do with that sixth pick in the draft?
Speaker 3 (32:05):
What should the Commanders do? At two?
Speaker 1 (32:08):
You're in the NFL Hall of Fans on NFL Total
Access to podcast.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
Coming right back.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
You are listening to NFL Total Access to the podcast
Andrew Lady inside the NFL Hall of Fans. Cowboys and
Eagles fans have sounded off and then they stormed off,
leaving Commanders fans and Giants fans milling about, dreaming of
glorious days that were and maybe dreaming of better days
to come. Let's turn now to fans of the New
(32:37):
York Giants, who finished third in the NFC East a
season ago, their record six and eleven. Let's not forget
Daniel Jones was injured his rep got a little dinged
up too, leading to assumptions this offseason that the Giants
are looking for his replacement and yet team needs. According
to NFL dot Com, no mention of a quarterback, defensive tackle,
(32:58):
running back, the inside of their line, edge rusher, and
cornerback will do the quarterback mentioning they have six picks
in all with which to address their needs. The sixth
the overall pick, of course, in the first round. They've
got a second round pick, a third, a fourth, a fifth,
and a sixth. With that, let's welcome our first Giants
fan into the room. Come on in, Giants fans, Welcome
(33:21):
to the NFL Hall of Fans. Let's start with my
good buddy Nicole used to work here at NFL Media.
She's at Amazon now doing Thursday nights in the NFL.
A dear friend, a loyal Giants fan, who says that
for her, the perfect draft is that the Giants don't
go after a quarterback. Cole's message, A lot of money
was spent on Daniel Jones, so find him weapons and
(33:42):
give him a chance to succeed. She'd love to hear
the name Elik Neighbors LSU seems to breed pretty good
wide outs. Cole says she's proudest of the loyalty of
this Giants fan base. New Jersey and New York fans
are passionate, even when it seems there isn't that much
to be proud of. Are just out of our minds,
Nicole says, but we come back for more Giants football,
(34:04):
no matter what the outlook is. Her biggest worry well
which version of Daniel Jones she's gonna get. But she
reminds her fellow g men that, look, we bolstered the
offensive line. If they can stay healthy, then Daniel Jones
should have more time with that. Maybe we can see
the DJ of a few years back. She said, we
can't meet the real Daniel Jones if he's constantly being
(34:27):
chased down. Former colleague Matt, who's out in Austin, Texas now,
says the perfect draft means getting a wide receiver he
prefers Malik Neighbors, but just don't take a quarterback at six.
He says, we have too many other holes to fill
right now. Matt's biggest source of pride is his ability
to talk himself into Giants being good at a moment's notice.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
That's true.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
Matt was always singing the praises of a Giant's team,
whether they deserved it or not. He says he hopes
Daniel Jones gets healthy and that we protect him for
the first time in his career. He hopes that Evan
learns how to not just be a turnstile, and that
we have a great pass rush duo in Brian Burns
and Thibodeaux with Sexy Dexi in the middle, and that
we become the best seven and ten team in the league.
(35:13):
Matt's biggest source of concern is expending too many assets
to get a QB. If you like your guy, he says,
for sure, go get him. But his fear is that
no one could possibly succeed on this current roster, So
don't waste a pick on a quarterback at six. Our
dear friend Amanda and the social media team here says
(35:33):
she wants a wide receiver in the draft for her Giants.
Here's looking at you, Malik Neighbors. She added, we through
the bank at Daniel Jones, which is something she struggles with,
but the guy needs weapons around him desperately. Now for
the record, Amanda add it, if we do trade up
for a quarterback. I won't be upset. Amanda also says
she's proudest of Dexter Lawrence and Cavon Thibodeaux Sexy Dexi.
(35:57):
There's that reference again. Sexy Dexi and Cavon, Amanda says,
are fun to watch, bright spots on an otherwise dim team,
and she is very excited for the addition of Brian Burns.
As for concerns, she asked, how much time do we have?
That was her first question, quickly followed by questions like
how do you let Saquan walk? Seeing him in an
(36:19):
Eagle's uniform causes a physical reaction for Amanda. I should
think she's not alone. I hope the Eagles lose every
single game. Amanda said she is very concerned about Daniel
Jones too. Gotta get him weapons, for sure, you hear
a lot of that, but she described a lack of
trust and faith in Daniel Jones.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
Overall.
Speaker 1 (36:39):
She's worried about Evan Neil too. There's a familiar thread.
Guy's got a long way to go, she said, especially
considering all the hype. You New York fans have that
in common, you guys don't mind the hype but man,
you hate it when performances don't match the hype. And
of course, let's not forget today's special guest, Mike Yam,
who wants Marvin Harrison in the draft. He says he
(37:01):
gets most of his confidence these days from that defense
that he talked about earlier, a defense that now boasts
Brian Burns, and he reminded me we hit a home
run with Kaevon Thibodeaux. His biggest concern, Mike says, the
offensive line. Some will tell you it's playmakers, which is
a concern, but the offensive line simply isn't strong enough.
And when I asked Giants fans to finish the following sentence,
(37:24):
I wouldn't be surprised if my twenty twenty four New
York Giants did what well, here are a few answers,
end up last in the NFC East, one fan said.
Another fan went even harder, said, I wouldn't be surprised
if we are the worst team in the NFL. He
also added ruefully that with Saquon Gon, this offense is useless.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (37:45):
One note of hope from Giants fans, and that note
of hope to be cast in the role of villain
not lead. It's an uphill battle, she said, and it's
going to take time to figure out who we are offensively.
If we stay healthy and if we give the defense
time to rest, we may just be good enough to
at the very least play spoiler cause some trouble for
(38:05):
a few other teams. And Mike Yam, of course, forever
joyful and hopeful. Mike Yam says, I wouldn't be surprised
if we.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Win the damn Division.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
And finally, let's welcome into the Hall of Fans a
small but earnest contingent of Commanders fans. The Washington Commanders
finished last in the NFC East a year ago with
a record of four and thirteen. New ownership certainly the
big story. A new head coach too, Dan Quinn, a
new offensive coordinator in Cliff Kingsbury, a new defensive coordinator
(38:38):
in Joe Witt Junior. A word on Joe Witt Junior
for any Commanders fans who don't know. This is the
former Cowboys defensive backs coach. And don't forget that while
he was with Dallas, Cowboys had ninety plus takeaways. During
his time with that defense, they led the league in
takeaways in twenty twenty one and twenty twenty two. Joe
(38:59):
Witt Junior's secondary was top ten in three straight seasons
when it comes to takeaways. Team needs according to NFL
dot Com for the Commander's quarterback, no surprise there, edge rusher,
wide receiver, the inside of the O line, and linebacker.
The Commanders have nine picks in all to address those needs.
They have six picks in the first one hundred picks
(39:22):
very interesting, the second overall pick in the first round,
two picks in the second round, and three picks in
the third. They also have two picks in the fifth
and one in the seventh. Got a call earlier from
my dear friend Lindsey, DC native, former colleague here at
NFL Media, a Howard alum, a DC sports fanatic. She
says that what she wants in the draft Marvin Harrison
(39:44):
and then to actually throw two Marvin Harrison during the season.
Notice the absence of a quarterback for her at number two.
Maybe she's thinking about a trade back scenario. Curious about
her vision. Her biggest source of pride as a Washington
fan new ownership, her biggest source of concern as a
Washington fan, new ownership, and she says she wouldn't be
(40:06):
surprised if the twenty twenty four Washington Commanders aren't the
Commanders for long.
Speaker 3 (40:12):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (40:12):
Another name change. That is Lindsay's predictions. And I have
to admit I've heard rumors, and finally, this Washington Commander's
fan has but one wish for my team in this draft.
Make moves for the right reasons. Adam Peters and Dan
Quinn and Cliff Kingsbury and Joe Witt and you too,
Josh Harris. Excuse me, mister Harris. Make the calls that
(40:35):
reflect your convictions and your beliefs. Make calls based on
good data and study and scouting, and get as close
to certainty as you can, and then act, make decisions
based on all that.
Speaker 3 (40:48):
And I'll be.
Speaker 1 (40:49):
Happy with whatever names are attached. My biggest concern, well,
it's the wages of change. I wouldn't be surprised if
the Commanders struggle again this year, maybe mightily, maybe not
four wins like last season, but mid single digits. I'm sorry,
but that kind of sounds about right. Change is hard.
It's hard to galvanize resources and energies and human hopes
(41:12):
and physical assets and timing and luck, and it's unlikely
that we're going to reinvent ourselves as champions right away.
Let's just reinvent ourselves as a better team, better than
we were last season, and better each week if we can.
And if it goes like that, well, then before too long,
we're going to prove to be better on Sundays and
Mondays and Thursdays. Then enough teams to then talk about
(41:36):
higher aspirations. I have patience, most of us NFL fans do.
My biggest source of pride heart pounding memories of my
father and my brother and mom too, listening to games
on the car radio after church, watching downstairs on the
color TV in the house. Yes, we had but one,
tossing the nerve football around at halftime with my brother
(41:57):
John the passer, me the eager wide out, the smell
of fireplace smoke in the air, and the hopes and
dreams of youth colliding in autumnal perfection. Guys, that's why
I love this sport and this league, and yes, my
team too. And I know I'm not alone. You love
your team just as much as I do, for reasons
(42:18):
that are just as personal as mine. So there you
have it.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
The NFC East.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
I want to thank today's special guest, Mike Yam, the
Sweet Potato Kid, for making time for us as he
so often does. Mike Yam, thank you so much, and
I want to invite the listener to join us again
next time for a closer look at the hopes and
the dreams. And yes, the draft needs too, of the
Bills and the Jets and the Patriots and the Dolphins.
That's right, our countdown, So the twenty twenty four NFL
(42:47):
Draft continues in the AFC East next time. Till then,
thanks for listening and chowfa now. NFL Total Access is
pre production of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio. For
more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio
Speaker 3 (43:06):
App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
NFL Total Access is a production of the NFL in
partnership with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
It's Wednesday, April third, and you're listening to NFL Total Access,
the podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
That is the voice of today's special guest who doesn't
have a lot of time, so I won't bore him
with a long dissertation on why I love him and
why you should too. So let's get right to it
and welcome back to the pod, the Sweet Potato Kid.
The host of NFL Total Access the broadcast, Mike.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yam, So, I'm already derailing this thing even though we're
short on time. One, there's some weirdness going on in
this studio. I almost like feel like I'm hearing like a.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
TV shows sound weird past.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
My voice is screwed ten minutes before I walked in
here as something happened.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
I don't know what we're doing. I actually know what
halfway through was.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I know you you were yelling at some young PA.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Probably was I was probably yelling at somebody. I thank
you so much for making the time for us today,
and here's how we're going to spend it.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
I am your host.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
NFL Network Senior writer Andrew Levian on today's show, our
countdown to the Draft continues in the Division of the
Giants and the Eagles and the Commanders and of course
the defending Division champion Cowboys, Dallas, DC, Philly and New
York just like I pictured it. Say what you will
about the NFC East. It's got market size for days,
(01:14):
doesn't it. And a pretty glorious history too, which I'm
going to expound upon shortly. We're also going to open
up the doors to the NFL Hall of Fans. Cue
the music, that's right, it's all part of our countdown
to the Draft. Today we're going to hear from a
group of fans who are known for being demure, reluctant
to share their opinions, hushed tones when they do. You know,
(01:36):
fans from Philly, New York, DC, and Dallas, NFC East
fans clamoring outside the Hall of Fans only if you
are getting in, all have something to say. Oh please
kill that music, Thanks Coop. Okay, Mike cam you are
a prince for giving us a few minutes. Mike has
actually just done a round of interviews couple of NFL prospects.
You can catch all of Mike's work on the THA broadcast.
(01:59):
That's Weakeday seven pm Eastern, four pm Pacific on NFL network.
I don't like just calling out Eastern time names. We
live on the West West coast. Here we gonor the four.
It's four pm on the West coast. You make the
transition when you hear that East Coast to plus one
or the other. Yeah, okay, carry the one. But so
grateful for your time on a day when you should
(02:20):
be here. It's NFC East Day. You gotta be in
the chair. So let's get to work now. Before we
get your fan take Hostetler, fanboy, let's get to a
note or two of analysis from you, some overarching thoughts
to start. NFC West has the Niners, the North has
the Lions. There's your top performing NFC teams from a
(02:41):
season ago.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
The Cowboys win the East, but.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
They crash out spectacularly at home to the Packers in
the wildcard round. Eagles limp into the playoffs. They still
get a five seed, but they crash out on the
road to Baker's boys in Tampa Bay. My commander's stutter early.
Your Giants suffer all season, then you lose Saquon to
the Eagles. Your most hated division rival, Mike Yam, everybody
(03:05):
has one makes them better. Cowboys keep saying they're all in,
but no one can figure out what that means. Commanders
are becoming something might be good. We'll see, but it's
a moment of creation, and I should think, Mike, that
the Giants are similar, just in a more advanced stage
of creation. All to say, the division seems open to me,
(03:26):
it seems uncertain, unclear, no discernible hierarchy, not right now.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Maybe bottom two, top two.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
I don't know. Forgive the link to us for the
bottom two, but there's something blurry for me about the
NFC East, Mikeyam, Can you help me clear it up?
Speaker 2 (03:41):
I read it the same way that you do. Now
if you and I think you're gonna end up asking
me how I think the division is going to shape up.
I think that this NFC East is truly gettable, like right,
like we've talked about it, the amount of years that
there hasn't been a repeat champion or division winner, I
should say, in like twenty plus years. It is something
along those lines.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
And two thousand and four that was the last year
of that little mini streak that the Eagles had, Yeah,
and they won three straight.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
That's going to stay intact because the one thing and
I wouldn't say I feel overly confident. I don't feel
great about Dallas repeating as division shorts again, right, so
it is gettable. I still think Philly's the leader of
the pack. But I think the way that you characterize
Washington and New York is dead on. This is a
commander's team that spent about one hundred million dollars in
the offseason, right like they are becoming something. And I
(04:29):
do agree with you. The Giants quite frankly, a six
win campaign a year ago. I didn't see happening because
of what we saw two seasons ago. But when you're
throwing out no disrespect Tommy DeVito as your quarterback, it's
how Rod Taylor goes down and Daniel Jones goes down.
Like there's some problems that are there and an offensive
line that was a revolving door. The Giants should have
(04:50):
been better, but because of some injuries. And it sounds
like a cop out, but because of injuries. I think
that's why we're talking about the Giants having the six
overall pick with a six win campaign.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
And of course we've got the number two over we're
all pick with a four win campaign, so certainly the
bottom in terms of the you know, the class of
the outfit, we were the bottom two for sure.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
We were certainly the worst of the.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Group, assuming whatever it's Caleb or Jaden or any of
these guys. Yes, you're a Commander's fan. Yes, if I
said to you, they get the guy that you like,
whoever that player is at quarterback, knowing the money that
they've spent in this entire offseason, knowing that the division
is gettable. Would you be surprised if Washington won the NFC?
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Eas?
Speaker 1 (05:26):
I actually would, because we're not a quarterback away, right.
I feel like you guys are closer. You have a
proven quarterback. For whatever your thoughts are on Danny Dimes
and for whatever thoughts you have about what the Giants
should do or could you in the draft. I think
you are closer to that team that surprised people two
seasons ago than we are to the team that surprised
people three seasons ago. Right, So I would be surprised. Yes,
(05:47):
I would be surprised if we went from worse to first.
I don't think we're a candidate for that this year,
but I wouldn't be surprised if your Giants do win
the NFC East, such is the volatility of this division.
Let's look more closer at this division top to bottom,
and I want you to put your analyst hat on
for me. So raigning champion Dallas Cowboys, Mike Caam, what
is the strength of this team right now?
Speaker 2 (06:09):
It's offensive firepower, especially at the wide receiver spot. I mean,
CD and Dak are arguably on the short list of
one of the best one two punches in the entire NFL.
I think the other major storyline is Dak is essentially
playing in a proven year there he has highly motivated.
Jerry Jones made news, you know, a couple of weeks ago.
We had it for you on this podcast and on
(06:30):
TA the broadcast. Dak's not getting that contract extension. We
threw it out there. What would need to happen for
that to take place? David Carr said, go win a
super Bowl if that's the bar, which I get has
always gone to the bar for team like Dallas Cowboys.
The fact of the matter is it's been basically twenty
five some odd twenty eight years since that's happened. That's
(06:50):
a problem. So I would tell you their strength is
a highly motivated Dak Prescott, who was on the shortlist
of the MVP last year with one of the best
wide receivers. Hopefully they offensive line, which is still their
one of their biggest needs. This is a good offensive
line draft class. And who's running out of the backfield
this year.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Well that's a good question to be answered at some
point very soon, hopefully for Cowboys fans. But in your estimation,
the biggest strength is something illusory, it's not quite tangible.
It is motivation, it is desperation in a what you
call a gettable NFC East. What's the weakness, what's the.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Worry that they're not going to be able to figure
out this offensive line? You know, you go back twenty
eight years and we have enough of our friends and
colleagues here at NFL Network that play that played against
those Dallas Cowboys teams and understand that even just post
what that those Super Bowl runs were, they always established
everything with being tougher and more physical upfront on the
(07:45):
offensive line, and the reality is that has not been
the case for the last ten to fifteen years. You
can point to injuries, you can point to a change
in demeanor. I don't know what it is, but they
got to figure out that aspect of their game because
if that offensive line is good, we've seen other teams
because of scheme, be able to compensate for lack of
a household name in that backfield. So to me, it's
(08:06):
still that question do they have the pieces because to
basically make a run in the postseason. There are some
teams that I would point to this year, the Jets
being one of them, where I felt good about them
heading into last year and now this year feel great.
I think the roster for the Jets, for example, is
better than last year's roster. Unfortunately, I think Dallas's roster
(08:27):
from a year ago is better than the one as
of right now that we're going to be looking at
in Week one.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Very interesting.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
At their best in the old days so to speak, Cowboys, yes,
defined by a dominant run game. Let's turn to an
Eagles team that can say the same. Recently, when they
were at their best in a Super Bowl winning campaign,
it was an O line. Really it was a D
line and an O line. But on the offensive side
of things, they have an O line that hey is
creating images and silhouettes that we simply haven't been used
to allah the tush push. Is this Eagles team good
(08:56):
enough for a run? What is their strength?
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I think the Eagles are the I had him a
year ago as the favorite, and here's what I would
tell you. There was some deficiencies. And I don't know
because I'm not in that locker room and I don't
cover that team in that city. I can't tell you
about some of the here saying the gossip and the
rumors or get the pulse of that locker room. Something
is missing there right like, I don't know if you
would point to an offensive and a defensive coordinator removed
(09:22):
from that Super Bowl team and that's the reason why
there was a collapse. But this roster is still really good.
The one issue, and maybe I'm jumping ahead on your question,
is what we saw from a defensive standpoint, especially with
the linebacking crew and more specifically that secondary. They've addressed that.
We can talk about CJ. Gardner Johnson if you want,
but to me, the Eagles are still the favorite. They
(09:44):
have a guy right now who two years ago could
have been the MVP and ended up being Mahomes and
it wasn't. Jailen Hurts and they have a guy that
they just brought in, highly motivated who I would make
an argument if you said to me, who's your MVP
for this year, it's usually a quarterback. I'll just be
different and I'll tell you say, Kwon Barkley's got an
opportunity and a chance to be the lead MVP this season.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Okay, So Eagles the class of the outfit according to
Mike em in the NFC East, they are simply a
better team top to bottom. They still have a good
roster in spite of results that suggests to us that
they're unraveling.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
No, they still have probably the best roster in the
NFC East.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Rather, even with the retirements of Fletcher Cox and Jason
kelce what's the biggest worry, what's the biggest weakness you
hinted at? It is that what you think? Yeah, the
biggest their biggest problem.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
I think it's two things. When you have two veteran
guys on your offensive and your defensive lines that are
no longer there because of retirement with Fletcher Cox and
obviously Jason Kelcey, how do you replace that? That's an
issue to me. Now, Devil's advocate will tell you that
you had two leaders in that locker room, and things
still spiraled out of control. Maybe it just is what
(10:51):
it is. I think the biggest concern that I have
is that intangible I look at the roster. I think
it's really good. I don't know enough about that that
makeup in that locker room, because it's really the only
thing that I would point to that explains what we
saw down the stretch of last season.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Okay, let's turn now to your New York Giants. We
talked a little bit about them at the beginning of
the show, but let's get a little bit more granular here.
From your perspective as a Giants fan, but also as
an NFL analyst and host, what is the good with
the Giants?
Speaker 2 (11:19):
I feel like the defense is in a pretty good spot.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
Yeah right now.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Young players. Obviously, Kevon Thibodeau I think is a budding
superstar in the league if he's not already there. Brian
Burns acquisition was big time and in a lot of
ways I think solidifies the mentality of what you can
expect now. Mink Martindale, who's not there, he was there.
DC loved to blitz. It didn't necessarily pay dividends last year.
I get that, but with Burns and Thibodeau, I feel
(11:42):
great about getting pressure on the quarterback without having exactly
I hate losing McKinney. Xavier McKinney was an unsung hero
now with the Packers. By the way, I know the
Eagles were hot after him. That would have been crazy
that McKinney and Barkley both end up therek Thank god
that doesn't happen. God, that's the fan and me saying
that that was an involuntary.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
And have your you know, your most heated, hated division
rival get stronger.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
It's your own expense.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
That would be a tough pill to swallow. But the
reality is I do feel about the defense, and more
specifically the front front side of that defense with those
two guys.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
Okay, that's the good. What's the problem?
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Oh God? Offensive line people will tell you it's playmakers,
and I get it. You know, the Giants fans, they'll
tell you they want Neighbors or Harrison or roma Dunze
in the draft at six. Maybe it is a quarterback.
I know you've talked about it on this podcast. David
Carr has mentioned it. Other people have said, Hey, the Giants'
willingness to move up for a quarterback. I get all
of those things. To me, everything that you do in
(12:40):
football centers around what is happening with the offensive line.
I think it dictates everything in the game, even what
defenses want to do. So I think that's the most
important thing. And when you got dudes coming off the
bench literally who were watching the game on TV, yes,
and getting thrust into a starting lineup, because that's what
happened last year for the Giants offensive line, offensive line.
Offensive line has to be fixed.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Washington Commander's four wins last in the NFC East a
season ago, and yet in times of change, there's some anxiety,
without a doubt, but there's also some hope. The hope
for Commanders fans should come from who, from where?
Speaker 3 (13:14):
From what?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
I think new leadership is helpful, right?
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Is it that simple? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (13:20):
I mean I saw Dan Quinn make some comments which
would concern me if I was a Washington Commanders fan,
because I want a quarterback. But Marcus Marioto right now,
is QB one in inside that that quarterback room? Over
one hundred million dollars that are spent. Bobby Wagner, Frankieluvu
Jeremy Chin just to name a few, Austin Eckler on
the offensive side. So they have some playmakers both sides
of the ball that should help the.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Age of those guys worries me a little, and which
tells me, like for that price, but then what are
we doing right?
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Like that's what worries me. I want to know because
you made a comment, I said, hey, what would you want?
You felt like the team's not a quarterback away, and
yet when I look at the age, I.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Want to trade personally, I want to trade down.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
I want to stock.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
I want a team build, team building. Some people we
talked about this the other day. Yeah, some people team
build around a quarterback. If you've got your Patrick Mahomes,
then build around him. But if you don't, and they're
very rare, then build the team that. Like a rock
Party situation in San Francisco, Rock Purty steps into a
team that is ready to dominate, that is ready to
dominate on both sides.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
Of the ball.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
And for all of his upside, and there's plenty of it,
he's a very good quarterback. He's a perfect guy to
plug into a team that is ready to go. Well, Washington,
you don't have your quarterback. I don't see the quarterback
at two personally, So build the team that becomes ready
to go for the quarterback who either does grow into
the job or is available at the perfect time that's
not this year. Okay.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
So if that's the case, then what do you do
with that pick? Because what dan Quinton alluded to is
what you're saying, they might not stick at two and
they might trade out. But if that's the case, and
I look at the age of some of the guys
that I just made reference to, are you trying to
win now? You're trying to win down the road? Because
if you're trying to win down the road, then should
you have spent one hundred Well.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
All right, my take on it actually fights the business
in the off season. So we need to be more
in win now mode. So maybe I need to get
my head round not trading down. Take the best quarterback
at two and let's ride. If I was a Commander's fan,
mikem I'd be most nervous about what. Look.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
I think the obvious thing is is quarterback. But I
will say this, you have reset the organization, new front office,
new head coach. And if that's the case, there's time
to make mistakes. You don't necessarily feel the pressure to
rack up wins right now. And I think with that
in mind, that's a win. But still to me is
the biggest question around. You know, what's the team identity
(15:37):
right now? Like what is the identity of your ball club?
And obviously there's been more investment made on the defensive
side with some of these free agent signings, and you
brought in a defensive minded head coach and Dan Quinn.
I think the Jerry's still out on them. I really do.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
We'll have a predicted order of finish in the NFC
East courtesy of Mike em coming up shortly, but first
time to let him in. We're opening the doors to
the NFL all the fans. Kill the music. Kill the music,
NFC East fans only, Please AFC East fans, You're gonna
get to you next time. What do these fans want
to see their teams do in the draft? What is
their biggest source of pride, what is their biggest source
(16:12):
of concern? And what is their team gonna do this year?
We got some bold predictions coming up next on NFL Total.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Access, the podcast.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
You are listening to NFL Total Access the podcast Andrew Lady,
a shaky voiced Andrew Lady with NFL Total Access, the
broadcast host the Sweet Potato Kid, Mike m Do you
like the nickname?
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Man, well roll, I had a million nicknames sweet potatoes.
One of them Yammer yams yammy mfy so mother is something? Yeah,
now you used to get that one too.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
It's our countdown to the twenty twenty four NFL Draft,
presented by bud Light. April twenty fifth is Round one.
That's a Thursday on NFL Network, NFL plus dot com.
We got you covered on all the NFL platforms. Twenty
three days from round one. We're going team by team,
division by division. AFC West and NFC West are in
the books. Eight teams down, twenty four to go. Today
we land on the NFC East, and Mike, before you
(17:11):
scoot out of here, let's get your predicted order of
finish in the NFC East.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Who wins it? Who blows it? What you got?
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Eagles one? I still think they're the favorite. They have
the best roster in the division.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
So the streak of an NFC East without a back
to back champion continues. How Thys won it last year.
You see the Eagles winning it this year.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
I do. I think Barkley is going to be a
monster for that football team.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
How much does that hurt?
Speaker 1 (17:35):
You?
Speaker 3 (17:35):
Say?
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Brutal? Look, I'm happy for him. Look, I think the
Giants candidly probably didn't necessarily appreciate him or just value
other spots on the football field might be the best
way to describe it, But I think it's Eagles one.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Do.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
I feel good about what the Giants potentially could do
if Daniel Jones is healthy and they get another playmaker,
whether it's Neighbors Harrison or Aroma Duns, I'd feel good
about that. Gotta feel you're out the offensive line that
got them to Dallas. Dax still scares me. I'll put
Dallas at three and the Commander's sorry, Drew.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
No, please get Eagles back on the perch, back on top.
According to Mike Yam, as.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
He sees it, what April be. First week of April.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
We're a long way off, but right now, Mike says,
the Eagles are in prime position to win the NFC East.
His Giants are in a position to move up a
spot and be the runner up. Runner up good enough
to get a wildcard spot. Yeah, yeah, yeah, hell actually
right Giants, I had two Cowboys three My commanders will
go back to back years in the cellar, so sees
(18:36):
Mike Yam.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Thank you for today, pal.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Now, no, you're the best, dude.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
You got to get out of here.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
You have a show to do.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
I have a topic, some friends waiting to get in here.
As we throw open the doors to the NFL Hall
of Fans, cute the music. Today we celebrate with those
of you who are fans in the NFC East. Cowboys
fans and blue and silver Giants fans with a red,
white and dark blue Hugh some burgundy and gold repped
(19:02):
of course, and the loudest contingent of all wearing midnight green.
NFC East fans strut like kings, and maybe they do
so because they are NFC East is actually the most
successful division in NFL history. Twenty two of the fifty
eight Super Bowls featured a team from the NFC East.
Thirteen of the fifty eight Super Bowls were one by
(19:24):
a team from the NFC East. That's better than one
in five. It is the most decorated division in NFL history,
by the way. The AFC West is second with ten titles,
Casey certainly doing their part to close the gap lately.
Something else that the NFC East is that no one
else is triumphant from top to bottom. This is more
(19:47):
than a profit sharing division. This is a burden sharing division.
Every one of you out there who is an NFC
East fan can claim at least one season of NFL supremacy.
There is no other NF division in which all four
teams have lifted a Lombardi Trophy. Dallas leads the way
with five titles. Let's try and remember that, he says
(20:10):
to self when we criticized the Cowboys so called streak
of disappointment. Yes, it's been what twenty seven to twenty
eight years, but they managed five Super Bowls in the
thirty years before. Not too shabby. Giants have won four
Super Bowls. Commanders have three, two of which, incidentally, did
you know this, two of which came during the only
two strike shortened seasons in NFL history. So you know,
(20:33):
you give us fewer games, we'll make the most of it.
In Washington, and the Eagles, of course, have chipped in
with a Super Bowl win as well, making the NFC
East a division of parody. You could argue, and this
detail actually makes the parody argument better than anything else.
No NFL division has gone longer than the NFC East
without a champion in back to back years. No one's
(20:57):
done it since the Eagles had that little mini streak
ended in four that's twenty years of passing the title
around in this NFC East and that's pretty impressive. Now,
does that mean that the Eagles, giants or commanders are due? Eh?
I don't actually know about that. Did you know this
that the NFC East can trace its origins to the
(21:19):
year nineteen sixty seven? Then it was called the Capital
Division because it had the two nations capitals inside it.
That's what inspired the title Philly as the og nation's
capital back in colonial and revolutionary times, and of course
DC the nation's capital since the Residents Act of seventeen ninety.
(21:39):
We all knew that right Anyways, The NFL Capital Division
originally had Washington, Philly, Dallas, and an expansion franchise from
LA that's Louisiana, LA called the Saints. And that was
the case for a couple of seasons, But then the
NFL merged with the AFL back in nineteen seventy and
the name changed to NFC East, and the Giants and
(22:00):
the Saint Louis Cardinals made it a table for five,
only three of which could accurately identify as teams in
the East.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
But there you go.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Then, in two thousand and two, the Cardinals moved to
the much more appropriate NFC West after the reshuffle that
gave us the current eight division structure. Okay, enough history,
let's get to the now. We are twenty three days
from the first round of the NFL Draft, so let's
start the clock now and continue our countdown in the
(22:29):
NFC East, starting with the defending NFC East champion, the
Dallas Cowboys. In twenty twenty three, the Cowboys were twelve
and five. That was good for an NFC East Division title.
They of course lost in the first round of the
playoffs in that wildcard round beat down at the hands
of the visiting Green Bay Packers. They also lost Dan
Quinn to their division rival Commanders. Dak Prescott, of course,
(22:52):
not offered an extension that one of the bigger stories
of the offseason team needs. According to NFL dot Com,
offensive tackle, running back, the inside of the O line, cornerback,
and wide receiver. Not that many picks only seven with
which to address their needs. In the first round, they
have the twenty fourth overall pick. They've got a second
round or a third round or a fifth round or
(23:13):
a sixth rounder, and two picks in the seventh round.
With that in our heads, let's open the doors to
the Hall of Fame and get some fans in here.
Fans like my boss Kingsley. Got to start with the Boss.
Kingsley says it will be the perfect draft if we
beef up the inside of the O line. A knowledgeable
Cowboys fan, his biggest source of concern what he calls
(23:34):
dax inability to finish.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
I think that's a really good description.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
His biggest source of pride a Micah Parson's motor that
Kingsley says keeps getting bigger. One of Kingsley's cohorts in
charge over here at NFL Media, Chris says that he
sees a draft that requires replacing our departed center, left tackle,
and running back, while adding a wide receiver and getting
(23:59):
help in the pass rush and at defensive tackle, to
which he then added translation, I'm worried den Boys may
be screwed. Chris is proudest of past Super Bowl wins
that even thirty years on feel pretty damn good. His
biggest worry the front office and the coaching staff, he said,
my best friend from all the way back in high
(24:19):
school days in Northern Virginia, Scott said, Andrew, I have
a rule that I don't talk about this team until
September as it opens old wounds. But I will break
that rule for my dearest friend. Thank you, Scott. I
love you, Bud.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Appreciate that very much.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Scotty says it'll be the perfect draft if we can
trade Dallas Cowboys relevance for a chip and cash for
a conquest.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
And he's serious.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
He didn't name check a player he wants. He says
his biggest worry is a front office that after fifty
years as a fan, Scott has stopped believing in. He
doesn't buy that the Cowboys are what they claim to be.
Quote all in on winning a title, but he is
a proud Cowboys fan, remains so, and his biggest source
of pride is as signed Roger Stallback jersey on his wall.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
I've seen it. It's pretty cool. Stallback, Scott says, did.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Everything the right way and continues to be the best
face of the franchise that we've ever had. It is
the ghosts of the past that keep Scott coming back
for more. Cowboys fan Sydney, right here in this building
said her biggest source of pride is the loyalty through
all the highs and the lows that come with being
a fan of this team, even when we are consistent.
(25:30):
She said, there is something about this team that keeps
me around, and Sidney admitted, look, I was born after
the most recent Cowboys Super Bowl victory, but says that
she holds onto her team's history with a great deal
of pride. Nonetheless, free agency losses at the top of
her worry list. Signing a long snapper and a linebacker
just isn't enough, she worries. She did remind me we
(25:51):
didn't have a terrible season, a decently good season, if
you're being honest, How do we keep that momentum? Which
listener I found very interesting. This is a team totally
dogged by some narrative of always falling short. But Sydney's right,
there is momentum to be ridden here in Dallas with
this Cowboys team. Really, by any winning NFL team, It's
hard to win in the NFL and the Cowboys are
(26:13):
a winning NFL team. We just tend not to talk
about that fact all that much. For Sydney, it'll be
the perfect draft if we get a dang running back
after losing Tony Pollard, she said, we have to rebuild
around that position.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
A little bit.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
Then she added, actually a lot. Oh, and find a
replacement for Tyler Badish at center. That would help too.
The last question I ask everybody about their team is
to finish the following sentence, I wouldn't be surprised if
my twenty twenty four Dallas Cowboys did what well in
this case, One Cowboys fan said, miss the playoffs and
(26:46):
blow the whole thing up. Another said, I wouldn't be
surprised if my twenty twenty four Cowboys had another high
and low season. History tends to keep repeating itself season
after season. With my guys, we tend to produce decently,
win well in the season, both on offense and defense,
but can never finish it out. A more hopeful note
from one fan who says the NFC championship game is
(27:09):
not out of reach. He said, there's never been a
better window to take advantage of play in the NFC
than right now. He said, Look, it's a two horse
race in the division, and he believes that the NFC
winner comes either from the East or the NFC West.
And finally, Cowboys fans said, I wouldn't be surprised if
the twenty twenty four Cowboys are the best regular season
(27:31):
team in the entire league. Dak Is on the quote
bet on myself last year of his deal, and CD
and other pieces can compete at a high level, but
it will likely be the same outcome with a coach
and players that struggle on the big stage.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Thank you, Cowboys fans.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
Let's keep that door open and let some Philadelphia Eagles
fans in here in twenty twenty three. This is a
team that posted on eleven and six record. Look more closely,
though they finished one to four in their last five,
that eleven and six record was good for second in
the NFC East. They got a fifth seed in the
playoff bracket, but lost in that wild card round game
(28:13):
to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The postseason news of notes well,
of course, Jason Kelcey and Fletcher Cox retired. NFL dot
Com identifies Eagles team needs as running back, wide receiver, cornerback, linebacker,
and edge rusher. They have eight picks in all with
which to address those needs, the twenty second pick of
the first round. They have two picks in the second round,
(28:35):
one in the fourth, three in the fifth, and one
in the sixth. And that takes us to the NFL
Hall of Fans where Eagles fans like Sydney say, draft
kool Aid McKinstry to help our secondary. We gave up
too many passing yards to quarterbacks last year. I think
we were last in the league, she said, And James
Bradbury had an off season. Nothing like some good training
(28:57):
camp competition to push each other to be better. For Sidney,
the secondary is primary her biggest source of pride right now.
Having signed Saquon Barkley and just Howie Roseman, how he
does his part to get talented players in the building
and on the team, and now it's up to the
coaches and players to deliver. Sidney's biggest concern. Will we
(29:18):
be able to pay DeVonta Smith the contract he deserves
next year? AJ and Jalen Hurts already on the books
with huge contracts. On field concern coverage over the middle
of the field and at the linebacker depth. We got
torched last year, Sidney said, over the middle and could
barely tackle. Eagles fan Christy, a former colleague here at
(29:39):
NFL Media, says her perfect draft sees a first round cornerback.
There's a theme here, listener. Christy is proudest of how
dedicated Eagles fans are to their team. She's proud of
how Eagles players appreciate it and embrace their flock of fans,
she said. Jason Kelsey is the perfect example. Christy's biggest
worry team chemistry after how last season ended, and of
(30:02):
course after losing Jason Kelcey and Fletcher Cox. Eagles fan
La Rosa says it'll be the perfect draft if we
select an offensive tackle. His pride comes from a corps
of veterans like Jason Kelcey and Lane Johnson and Brandon
Graham and the way that they lead young players, which
is why his biggest concern is now asking young players
(30:23):
to fill in for those vets. He sees a chance
for recent first round picks Davis and Carter to step
up and be Pro Bowlers. Eagles fan Chris old Jenks
says he wants a top three corner in the draft.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
There you go.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
He also says, if you have to trade up to
get it, then trade up to get it and make
sure to grab a speedy slot receiver in rounds two
or three. Chris says he is most proud to say
he rooted for a team featuring Jason Kelcey and Fletcher Cox.
He's so proud that those two guys play their whole
careers in Philly. He's hopeful for two new coordinators, but
(31:00):
he's worried about Saquon's health. Chris says, we paid him
a lot of money, and we won't win the big
games without him. Varying degrees of optimism from Eagles fans
I spoke to who when asked to finish the following sentence,
I wouldn't be surprised if my twenty twenty four Philadelphia
Eagles did what here's an answer season sweep against the Cowboys.
(31:20):
Jalen is three and three against the Cowboys, but has
yet to beat dak in Dallas. This fan believes that
with the addition of Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts gets over
that hump and does the double against Dallas. Another fan says,
I wouldn't be surprised if we draft an o lineman
in the first round and then find a way to
lose to the Cowboys in Dallas yet again. But other
(31:43):
Eagles fans see an NFC East title in their future,
and others still believe that there is a path to
the NFC Championship game coming up. On NFL Total Access
to podcast, from New York to DC, there are shouts
for serious change. They are loud and they are proud,
But what are they actually asking for. What should the
(32:03):
Giants do with that sixth pick in the draft?
Speaker 3 (32:05):
What should the Commanders do? At two?
Speaker 1 (32:08):
You're in the NFL Hall of Fans on NFL Total
Access to podcast.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
Coming right back.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
You are listening to NFL Total Access to the podcast
Andrew Lady inside the NFL Hall of Fans. Cowboys and
Eagles fans have sounded off and then they stormed off,
leaving Commanders fans and Giants fans milling about, dreaming of
glorious days that were and maybe dreaming of better days
to come. Let's turn now to fans of the New
(32:37):
York Giants, who finished third in the NFC East a
season ago, their record six and eleven. Let's not forget
Daniel Jones was injured his rep got a little dinged
up too, leading to assumptions this offseason that the Giants
are looking for his replacement and yet team needs. According
to NFL dot Com, no mention of a quarterback, defensive tackle,
(32:58):
running back, the inside of their line, edge rusher, and
cornerback will do the quarterback mentioning they have six picks
in all with which to address their needs. The sixth
the overall pick, of course, in the first round. They've
got a second round pick, a third, a fourth, a fifth,
and a sixth. With that, let's welcome our first Giants
fan into the room. Come on in, Giants fans, Welcome
(33:21):
to the NFL Hall of Fans. Let's start with my
good buddy Nicole used to work here at NFL Media.
She's at Amazon now doing Thursday nights in the NFL.
A dear friend, a loyal Giants fan, who says that
for her, the perfect draft is that the Giants don't
go after a quarterback. Cole's message, A lot of money
was spent on Daniel Jones, so find him weapons and
(33:42):
give him a chance to succeed. She'd love to hear
the name Elik Neighbors LSU seems to breed pretty good
wide outs. Cole says she's proudest of the loyalty of
this Giants fan base. New Jersey and New York fans
are passionate, even when it seems there isn't that much
to be proud of. Are just out of our minds,
Nicole says, but we come back for more Giants football,
(34:04):
no matter what the outlook is. Her biggest worry well
which version of Daniel Jones she's gonna get. But she
reminds her fellow g men that, look, we bolstered the
offensive line. If they can stay healthy, then Daniel Jones
should have more time with that. Maybe we can see
the DJ of a few years back. She said, we
can't meet the real Daniel Jones if he's constantly being
(34:27):
chased down. Former colleague Matt, who's out in Austin, Texas now,
says the perfect draft means getting a wide receiver he
prefers Malik Neighbors, but just don't take a quarterback at six.
He says, we have too many other holes to fill
right now. Matt's biggest source of pride is his ability
to talk himself into Giants being good at a moment's notice.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
That's true.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
Matt was always singing the praises of a Giant's team,
whether they deserved it or not. He says he hopes
Daniel Jones gets healthy and that we protect him for
the first time in his career. He hopes that Evan
learns how to not just be a turnstile, and that
we have a great pass rush duo in Brian Burns
and Thibodeaux with Sexy Dexi in the middle, and that
we become the best seven and ten team in the league.
(35:13):
Matt's biggest source of concern is expending too many assets
to get a QB. If you like your guy, he says,
for sure, go get him. But his fear is that
no one could possibly succeed on this current roster, So
don't waste a pick on a quarterback at six. Our
dear friend Amanda and the social media team here says
(35:33):
she wants a wide receiver in the draft for her Giants.
Here's looking at you, Malik Neighbors. She added, we through
the bank at Daniel Jones, which is something she struggles with,
but the guy needs weapons around him desperately. Now for
the record, Amanda add it, if we do trade up
for a quarterback. I won't be upset. Amanda also says
she's proudest of Dexter Lawrence and Cavon Thibodeaux Sexy Dexi.
(35:57):
There's that reference again. Sexy Dexi and Cavon, Amanda says,
are fun to watch, bright spots on an otherwise dim team,
and she is very excited for the addition of Brian Burns.
As for concerns, she asked, how much time do we have?
That was her first question, quickly followed by questions like
how do you let Saquan walk? Seeing him in an
(36:19):
Eagle's uniform causes a physical reaction for Amanda. I should
think she's not alone. I hope the Eagles lose every
single game. Amanda said she is very concerned about Daniel
Jones too. Gotta get him weapons, for sure, you hear
a lot of that, but she described a lack of
trust and faith in Daniel Jones.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
Overall.
Speaker 1 (36:39):
She's worried about Evan Neil too. There's a familiar thread.
Guy's got a long way to go, she said, especially
considering all the hype. You New York fans have that
in common, you guys don't mind the hype but man,
you hate it when performances don't match the hype. And
of course, let's not forget today's special guest, Mike Yam,
who wants Marvin Harrison in the draft. He says he
(37:01):
gets most of his confidence these days from that defense
that he talked about earlier, a defense that now boasts
Brian Burns, and he reminded me we hit a home
run with Kaevon Thibodeaux. His biggest concern, Mike says, the
offensive line. Some will tell you it's playmakers, which is
a concern, but the offensive line simply isn't strong enough.
And when I asked Giants fans to finish the following sentence,
(37:24):
I wouldn't be surprised if my twenty twenty four New
York Giants did what well, here are a few answers,
end up last in the NFC East, one fan said.
Another fan went even harder, said, I wouldn't be surprised
if we are the worst team in the NFL. He
also added ruefully that with Saquon Gon, this offense is useless.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (37:45):
One note of hope from Giants fans, and that note
of hope to be cast in the role of villain
not lead. It's an uphill battle, she said, and it's
going to take time to figure out who we are offensively.
If we stay healthy and if we give the defense
time to rest, we may just be good enough to
at the very least play spoiler cause some trouble for
(38:05):
a few other teams. And Mike Yam, of course, forever
joyful and hopeful. Mike Yam says, I wouldn't be surprised
if we.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Win the damn Division.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
And finally, let's welcome into the Hall of Fans a
small but earnest contingent of Commanders fans. The Washington Commanders
finished last in the NFC East a year ago with
a record of four and thirteen. New ownership certainly the
big story. A new head coach too, Dan Quinn, a
new offensive coordinator in Cliff Kingsbury, a new defensive coordinator
(38:38):
in Joe Witt Junior. A word on Joe Witt Junior
for any Commanders fans who don't know. This is the
former Cowboys defensive backs coach. And don't forget that while
he was with Dallas, Cowboys had ninety plus takeaways. During
his time with that defense, they led the league in
takeaways in twenty twenty one and twenty twenty two. Joe
(38:59):
Witt Junior's secondary was top ten in three straight seasons
when it comes to takeaways. Team needs according to NFL
dot Com for the Commander's quarterback, no surprise there, edge rusher,
wide receiver, the inside of the O line, and linebacker.
The Commanders have nine picks in all to address those needs.
They have six picks in the first one hundred picks
(39:22):
very interesting, the second overall pick in the first round,
two picks in the second round, and three picks in
the third. They also have two picks in the fifth
and one in the seventh. Got a call earlier from
my dear friend Lindsey, DC native, former colleague here at
NFL Media, a Howard alum, a DC sports fanatic. She
says that what she wants in the draft Marvin Harrison
(39:44):
and then to actually throw two Marvin Harrison during the season.
Notice the absence of a quarterback for her at number two.
Maybe she's thinking about a trade back scenario. Curious about
her vision. Her biggest source of pride as a Washington
fan new ownership, her biggest source of concern as a
Washington fan, new ownership, and she says she wouldn't be
(40:06):
surprised if the twenty twenty four Washington Commanders aren't the
Commanders for long.
Speaker 3 (40:12):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (40:12):
Another name change. That is Lindsay's predictions. And I have
to admit I've heard rumors, and finally, this Washington Commander's
fan has but one wish for my team in this draft.
Make moves for the right reasons. Adam Peters and Dan
Quinn and Cliff Kingsbury and Joe Witt and you too,
Josh Harris. Excuse me, mister Harris. Make the calls that
(40:35):
reflect your convictions and your beliefs. Make calls based on
good data and study and scouting, and get as close
to certainty as you can, and then act, make decisions
based on all that.
Speaker 3 (40:48):
And I'll be.
Speaker 1 (40:49):
Happy with whatever names are attached. My biggest concern, well,
it's the wages of change. I wouldn't be surprised if
the Commanders struggle again this year, maybe mightily, maybe not
four wins like last season, but mid single digits. I'm sorry,
but that kind of sounds about right. Change is hard.
It's hard to galvanize resources and energies and human hopes
(41:12):
and physical assets and timing and luck, and it's unlikely
that we're going to reinvent ourselves as champions right away.
Let's just reinvent ourselves as a better team, better than
we were last season, and better each week if we can.
And if it goes like that, well, then before too long,
we're going to prove to be better on Sundays and
Mondays and Thursdays. Then enough teams to then talk about
(41:36):
higher aspirations. I have patience, most of us NFL fans do.
My biggest source of pride heart pounding memories of my
father and my brother and mom too, listening to games
on the car radio after church, watching downstairs on the
color TV in the house. Yes, we had but one,
tossing the nerve football around at halftime with my brother
(41:57):
John the passer, me the eager wide out, the smell
of fireplace smoke in the air, and the hopes and
dreams of youth colliding in autumnal perfection. Guys, that's why
I love this sport and this league, and yes, my
team too. And I know I'm not alone. You love
your team just as much as I do, for reasons
(42:18):
that are just as personal as mine. So there you
have it.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
The NFC East.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
I want to thank today's special guest, Mike Yam, the
Sweet Potato Kid, for making time for us as he
so often does. Mike Yam, thank you so much, and
I want to invite the listener to join us again
next time for a closer look at the hopes and
the dreams. And yes, the draft needs too, of the
Bills and the Jets and the Patriots and the Dolphins.
That's right, our countdown, So the twenty twenty four NFL
(42:47):
Draft continues in the AFC East next time. Till then,
thanks for listening and chowfa now. NFL Total Access is
pre production of the NFL in partnership with iHeartRadio. For
more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio
Speaker 3 (43:06):
App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
The Nikki Glaser Podcast
Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki Glaser provides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.