May 22, 2025 • 42 mins
NFL Network Insiders Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport report on the biggest football stories of the day. First, Steve Wyche joins with more anecdotes from the life of the late Colts Owner Jim Irsay. Then, none other than Coach Tony Dungy joins the program to reflect on the life of his old friend. Later, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith has a discussion with the Insiders about this upcoming season. The day is capped off with Michael F. Florio's fantasy football insight into the AFC East.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Remember that devastating injury for Aiden Hutchinson, that broken leg
that everyone, not just Lions fans, everyone was heartbroken about. Well,
great news from the Lions pass rusher as he gets
deep into the off season.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Program.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Will have that later for you. It's great news for
everybody except quarterbacks. Speaking of the guys who like to
tackle quarterbacks. Alex high Smith, Steelers pass rusher set to join.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Us later in the program. Always a great visit with him.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Maybe he knows if that guy who was just in
the backfield there, Aaron Rodgers, is going to grace us
with a decision too. We'll ask him about it, and
the Eagles say, yeah, keep pushing. I think I saw
that they're actually printing push on T shirts now, like
they're really taking this one pretty far, all the way
into the end zone, kind of like the touch push itself.
We'll have more on the PUSH's survival of a valiant
(00:57):
effort from the Packers and their friends to try to
ban it. Well, come inside with the insiders, Ian Rappaport,
Steve Weisch joining us later in the program. Brian Baldinger
will be along Michael f Florio for all your fantasy needs.
I mentioned Alex Heismith will be with us, and Tony Dungee,
the former Indianapolis Colts head coach, will be with us
to talk about the passing of Jim Ersay, which occurred
(01:21):
just a day ago with the Colts making that announcement
a surprise to many folks in the NFL world, despite
the fact that Ersi Ersay, excuse me, had been dealing
with some health issues. Ian, let's go to you on
this one. Ian, your thoughts. I know you weren't on
the program yesterday. Your thoughts on Jim Ersay passing away.
(01:45):
I know we have had plenty of interactions with this guy,
one of the more unique personalities in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Yeah, there are two major things that come to my
mind about Jim Irsay And you're right, certainly unique individual.
Talk to people in the Colts building as I did today.
I mean, of all the things they talk about, it's
just how well he treated everyone, not just the star players,
or not just the coaches or coordinators, really everyone all
the way down the line. Just treated people, just treated
(02:13):
people the right way, but certainly had a different way
as an owner. Right, And what stands out to me
talking about owners meetings Obviously this broke when the Minnesota
owners meetings that Spring meetings were happening yesterday. The memory
I have is when there was all the stuff swirling
about Dan Snyder and all the lawsuits and all the allegations,
(02:34):
and we were all wondering about how long was Dan
Snyder going to be the owner of the Washington franchise.
And Jim Mercy was the first owner to put himself
out there and say there is merit to removing Dan Snyder.
I couldn't believe it when he said it. He was
very serious, He knew what would come with it, knew
what the blowback would be. Said it anyway proved to
(02:55):
be one of the more valuable and important things an
owner has said in recent times. Then the other thing
that comes to my mind twenty sixteen. This seems like
ancient history, but Chuck Pegano and Mark Grigson were a
little bit at odds the franchise were not going in
the right direction, and we all had been talking about, well,
obviously Ersay is going to fire them, either one or
both or this cannot be right. We just assumed, as
(03:19):
every owner does, it's not working, just fire instead. Ers
sat down, both men at like a midnight little meeting
and got their heads together, got them to work together,
and really made it all work. And it was That's
not what every owner would have done. Believe me. Firing
was much easier, much easier. Getting those minds to come
(03:41):
together and make sense of the thing and just work
together in the right direction was pretty cool, honestly, And
it was very very Jim Orsay.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
Yeah, and he is.
Speaker 5 (03:51):
He was definitely one of most unique people, especially when
it comes to owners, that any of us have ever
dealt with. He was He was his own person and
developed his own legacy. You can see just all of
the comments so many people who've dealt with him over
the years have put on social media or whatever. But
there's no greater legacy you can have as a parent
than your children. And while we're still mourning the loss
(04:13):
of Jim Ursay, a succession plan has been somewhat been
established over the years, although nothing's been made official, where
his three daughters, Carly, Casey, and Kaylin, who are all
part owners, will share ownership of this team. Everybody expects Carly,
his oldest daughter, to really be the lead in the
(04:33):
front of the face of this organization. She's represented Ursay,
She's been to league meetings with him on several occasions,
been very front forward with the organization. So his daughters
again will likely share ownership, but again Carly the oldest
daughter and.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Likely will take the lead.
Speaker 5 (04:49):
And she's got some big and interesting shoes to fill
and those are of her father.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Car the Airs Gordon ran the franchise when her father
was suspense he had been going through treatment in the past.
So she does have the experience of being in that seat,
of being in that owner's chair, and does have the
respect of.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Many in the building as well as those around the.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
NFL for the numerous initiatives that she has been a
part of as well. So the Colts very much in
good hands and very much a part of the plan
that Jim Ersay had all along to pass the team
over to his daughters, maybe a little sooner than he
and many expected.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
One of those folks being Anthony.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Richardson, the current quarterbacker buying for the starting quarterback job
with the Colts. Right there you see his post on
social media, rest easy, Big Guy on his Instagram story.
And then there's Andrew Luck releasing a statement about him
being sat by the passing of Jim Ersay and how
much Luck knows that he loved and cared deeply for
(05:51):
the players, the fans, the Colts organization. We've heard that
repeatedly from folks, and I'm sure we're going to hear
that from Tony Dundee later in the program we have
him on to talk about his experience playing or coaching
for and being a part of the Colt's organization with
Jim Ersay as owner. There was NFL business that was
(06:14):
conducted yesterday at a meeting of the owners in Minnesota
with regard to the Tush push Ian and the fact
that the Packers had proposed, initially earlier in this offseason
to ban it. The conversation was kicked down the road
at the March meeting and a lot of folks thought,
here it comes, Tush push about to be banned. However,
(06:34):
only twenty two votes. I say only he needed twenty
four to make the change. Rich McKaley, head of the
Competition Committee, saying that it's good that the threshold is
so high to make some changes didn't quite get there.
Toush Push remains legal Ian push on say the.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Eagles, Oh yeah, the Eagles are saying that they are
pushing on with tweets and with merchandise and all sorts
of stuff to kind of champion their cause. And that
really is what it's becoming. If you know anything about
Nick Sirianni, I wouldn't be surprised if he does as
a bunch this year, even more than he originally planned,
if only to show people that they're just going to
(07:09):
keep doing it. But you're right, it was a little
bit of a surprise thing. Most people I spoke with
believe that once the NFL got behind it, once the
Competition Committee got behind it, once the health and safety
people at the NFL got behind it, that this was
certainly going to go go away. Right, They come up
with different language and makes sense. So it's not just
your banning one play. This was all set to be banned,
(07:29):
to be removed. Everyone would else would go on their
married way. They just didn't have the votes, And you know,
certainly there's some disappointment, right, but stee, they just didn't
have the votes. And this is what it should be.
It should be if you were going to make a
significant step like banning a big time play that you know,
led the egos to a bunch of touchdowns, it should
be nearly unanimous. This was highly contested and it was
(07:51):
not unanimous by a long shot. Now, at least this
year it sticks. We'll see about next year.
Speaker 4 (07:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
What's interesting is when we were at the league meetings
earlier this year, it was mainly the coaches who had
the big opinions on this. Hey, we shouldn't punish a
team first doing something well, or we don't like this
play doesn't belong in football. And this really seems like
a time when the owners listen to their coaches. A
lot of times they don't do that and they just
set policy based on what they discussed in the room.
And as we know that Eagles owner Jeffy Lury gave
(08:19):
an impassioned plea to his owner saying, look, this is
part of a game that we've been able to do well.
You guys can copy it. It's out there for you guys.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
To do it.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
Some of you guys just don't do it as good
as us, so don't punish us before then. And of
course Jason Kelsey, the center who was part of the
touch push for years, he was in that meeting as well.
But the fact that the Eagles were successful with this,
to me and he said, we'll see if we revisit this.
I think the only way this gets revisited is if
a significant injury happens, which is what people were predicting. Hey,
let's get ahead of this before one does happen, even
(08:52):
though there's been no evidence or history of a significant
injury happening because of this play.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Yeah, I think it's a If there's an injury on
this play this upcoming season, I think it's pretty clear
you get the two more votes that you need to
get it banned.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
If there's not, does it swing back in the other direction?
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Does it go from twenty two down to twenty eighteen
or even lower?
Speaker 2 (09:11):
And people say, you know what, it's a safe play.
It doesn't look like a football play.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
But frankly, who cares what Ian Rappaport thinks about the play.
If it's successful, let the Eagles and everybody continue to
run the play. I love you, and I really love
the fact that the play is still in there and
we could talk about this for another year.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
And I love the fact that Aiden Hutchinson is back.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Look at this guy, I mean, this guy had a
terrible broken leg suffered too early last season. Says he's
fully clear now and given the green light to resume
all football activities.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
That is great news.
Speaker 6 (09:42):
Aiden Hudginson, I got cleared a while back, and now
I'm just I'm wrong with the boys now and it
feels like it feels like I'm back to being myself again.
And yeah, I'm really looking forward to the season. I'm
looking forward to I mean, I think this is the
most excited I've been for OTAs in my life. This
(10:03):
is the biggest hiatus I've had without playing ball. So
I am, I'm pumped.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Brian Baldinger is pumped.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
He loves himself some Aidan Hutchinson. The folks in Detroit
are pumped. That was a devastating injury. They had so
many injuries last year that you wonder how much did
that one in particular, certainly more than some other ones,
but how much did that one in particular really stop
them from getting to the promised land of the super Bowl?
Speaker 2 (10:29):
And how much is having him back gonna help?
Speaker 1 (10:31):
So ian talking about Aiden Hutchinson in his return, what
does it mean for him, for the Lions forever, for everybody.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Well, let's talk about specifically Aiden Hutchinson being cleared for
full activities a significant piece of news for the Lions because, look,
you thought he would make a full recovery, but you
never really know, right, So, Okay, he's made a full recovery.
That's very good news football wise. Contractually, it's excellent, excellent
news for Aiden Hutchinson because it's not like the Lions
(10:59):
did think that he was going to recover properly. They
believed he would. They believed you back to full strength.
They had full confidence in that. You're not going to
make someone among the highest paid edge rushers in the
NFL without some certainty. So it does seem like while
there had been some talk, some discussion, it seemed like
the Lions kind of moved to pay him, was waiting
(11:21):
until he got fully cleared. Now he is, so now
they can really kickstart the conversations, really, you know, have
those discussions about making him one of the highest paid
edge rushers in the NFL. We'll see where it ends
up landing with Miles Garrett and all of those guys.
There's a couple other edges you need to get paid,
but probably wasn't gonna happen unless he was cleared. Now
he is, and it's time to give this guy all
(11:42):
of the money that he deserves, which is a lot
of it. Maldi.
Speaker 7 (11:45):
Well, you know this is we're of the star business.
The stars win games. Aiden Hutchinson is a star, and
they missed him. In fact, in only the five games
he'd played in only five games, he still led the
team in sacks a year ago, way more than just SAPs.
I mean, he lines up inside, outside, He's intercepted Aaron
Rodgers in the end zone, he could drop into coverage.
(12:09):
This was not a good defensive team down the stretch.
They gave up forty eight points and a home loss
to Buffalo. In December, they gave up forty five points
to the Commanders and a playoff loss at home in
the play and that was devastating. And they missed basically
the guy that is the heart and soul of this defense.
And it starts, it always starts up front. And so
(12:30):
getting him back, watching him run there, you know, if
the practice facility is really I mean, it's got to
be great feeling for him personally, but for any Lion
fan out there, and any teammate and every coach that
has to now replace you know, Aaron Glanders, defensive coordinator,
defensive line coaches that have moved on. It is a
great feeling watching him run so freely like that for
(12:54):
every Lion fan right now.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
And you talked about the contracts for the edge rushers,
Miles Garrett leading the way at forty million, but we've
got TJ. Watts still to be still to be done
with the Steelers, so Aiden Hutchinson's going to be looking
to push that number even higher. He's about to be
a very very rich man being cleared. Good for him financially,
great for the Lions from a football perspective. Thank you
both for your insight, the Colts and the NFL community.
(13:22):
Remembering Jim Ersay, who passed away yesterday at the age
of sixty five. A sudden development, despite the fact that
Ersay had experienced some health issues in the last couple
of years, but certainly one that caught a lot of
folks by surprise. So we have been collecting and sharing
memories of Ersay for over a day now. Lucas Oil Stadium, Yeah,
(13:45):
that's the house that Peyton built, but Jim Ersay was
the architect. Jim Irsay, the architect of the Eric Dickerson
trade so many years ago, and the Colts drafting Peyton Manning,
as well as hiring a number of influential head coaches.
And I know one is stand by right now listening
to me. Say that is going to join us momentarily.
Here's the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So sadden to
(14:06):
hear about the passing of Jim Ersa. Jim took ownership
of the Colts in ninety seven, I found the passing
of his father. Since taking this role, he led the
team through several divisional titles, franchise second Super Bowl championships.
Our thoughts are with his family in the entire Cults organization.
During this difficult time, plenty of Hall of Famers came
through that Indianapolis organization, including this one right here, Tony
(14:27):
Dungee joining us here on the insiders. Tony, we appreciate
your time, and a lot of folks have wanted to
hear from you in the wake of the passing of Jim, irsay,
because you work so closely alongside him from two thousand
and two to two thousand and eight. So our condolences
to you and just your overall thoughts when you heard
this news yesterday of the passing of one of the
(14:49):
NFL's most unique personalities.
Speaker 8 (14:51):
No, it was just devastating to me because Jim and
I just shared a special relationship. He called me in
two thousand and two in January after I got let
go by the Bucks and really just said, Tony, you're
the guy that I want to coach our team. And
he shared with me his dream and his vision for
the team, and it was just what I was looking for.
(15:14):
He said, we haven't been here a long time, we
don't have a seventy five or eighty year history like
some of the other franchises. We've got to connect with
our fan base. We've got to make Indianapolis feel like
we're their team. And I want to do it the
right way with the right kind of guys. We want
good role models. We were going to win, but we
want to do it the right way. And I'm on
the phone right here where I'm sitting in my office
(15:36):
here in Tampa and listening to him, and he got
me with that, Okay, that's what I want to do too.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Let's do this together.
Speaker 8 (15:44):
And it was a deal made over the phone just
like that.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
And what we're saying here, getting.
Speaker 8 (15:51):
The AFC Championship trophy and the Super Bowl trophy, I'll
never forget talking to him and saying, Jim, this is
what you talked about, this was your this is your vision,
and we did it.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
And that's to me what made him special.
Speaker 8 (16:06):
Yes he wanted to have a good team, Yes we
wanted to win, but he was family all the way.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
Tony to kind of dovetail off of that, what was
your perception of him before that phone call, and then
what was your perception of him after you decided to
retire or even after that.
Speaker 8 (16:26):
No, before before that phone call, my perception of the
Colts was, well, this is the franchise John Elway didn't
want to play for.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
This is the franchise that moved.
Speaker 8 (16:37):
This is the quirky guy that I see around sometime.
Didn't have a great impression of them. But after we
were on the phone about forty five minutes and after
that call, I said, man, I think very differently. And
then after I got there and started working there and
was around him every day to see really what he
wanted and to see his heart, and then to see
(16:59):
some of the things that he did Steve in the
background that nobody knew about the kids that he would
bring by the facility, that hey, this young man just
lost his dad in a car accident. I want you
guys to welcome him and take care of him. This
young lady's sick and she's going through some tough time.
Let her know that the Colts care. He did that
all the time, without ever anyone noticing, taking care of
(17:23):
players and players' families and solving problems for them, and
just making us really one big unit. That was his dream,
that was his vision, And I had a much different
perception after being around him for six months than I
did in all the time leading up to that.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Tony, We've been running our little bit on Jim Rrisay
since last night and on our shows throughout this morning
as well. And in that clip he says, I want
the players to know when they get there on Sunday.
I'm paraphrasing, but he said that I did everything I
possibly could to put them in a position to win.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Repeat that back to you.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
What do you think of as far as what he
did as an owner, whether it was financially or whatever
he needed to do to set you guys up to win.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
He absolutely did. His door was wide open.
Speaker 8 (18:13):
Any player could come in and talk to him about
anything at any time.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
They all knew that, and they took advantage of it.
Speaker 8 (18:19):
One of the best examples we played a game out
in Seattle, a preseason game, and they had the new
field turf and our guys played on it, and they
went to them and said, man, this turf is so
much softer, it's so much better than.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
What we had. He took out the astro turf at.
Speaker 8 (18:37):
The RCA Dome, took out the AstroTurf at our facility
and put it in because the players wanted it. And
that's the way he was about it everything. If you
guys wanted, if you guys need it, and it's going
to help us, we'll get it done some way, somehow.
Speaker 5 (18:51):
Tony, We've all had interesting discussions with Jim.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Like we've talked about, he was a quirky guy. He
was a different guy.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
Did he ever with everything he went through and we're
always talking about what he did for others? Did he
ever seek your counsel or the counsel of others to
maybe get him through a difficult time or a difficult decision.
Speaker 8 (19:12):
He always talked to me about, you know, how I
had helped him, and just my faith and my personality
and just saying, hey, let's relax and ride this out.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
We're going to get through it.
Speaker 8 (19:22):
We had some conversation at times, but he was just
so special and so caring and some of the things
that he went through he wanted to.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
Make sure that other people didn't go through. And boy,
he was great.
Speaker 8 (19:36):
At that, providing the type of mentoring and you know,
everything that we needed with the cult when I.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Was there, he had that huge rock and roll collection,
and we know about his passion for music. How much
of that did you encounter when he was the owner
and he's telling you stories or maybe a showing some memorabilia,
what or remember about that part of j Mersay.
Speaker 8 (19:59):
I got to say every now and then he would,
you know, call me up and say come down to
the office.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
I've got something to show you.
Speaker 8 (20:05):
I know what it was gonna be, But that was
his passion and what that taught me that you can
have things in life that you really care about and
there's nothing wrong with that and pursue it. And he
was special that way, no doubt about it.
Speaker 9 (20:20):
Tony.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
You've got in the Pro Football Hall of Fame shirt.
We saw a picture on a social media post before
we came into the segment not included on. There was
also Bill Polling and Dwight Freeney. I mean six six
people from the time that you all were together there
with the Colts. What did it mean to Jim to
not only have a Super Bowl championship, but so many
people who he hired and brought along the way are
(20:43):
now entrned and can't forever.
Speaker 8 (20:46):
I think it was a good feeling for him that
he was picking good people and that we had success.
Speaker 4 (20:52):
And I think one of the things.
Speaker 8 (20:53):
That that points out that picture was Vegeran's induction and
James picked Jim Mercy to be his presenter.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Now, how many Steve have you been around a long time?
Speaker 8 (21:05):
How many players picked their owner to present them?
Speaker 4 (21:09):
It doesn't happen.
Speaker 8 (21:11):
But that's the kind of relationship he had with all
of his players, and that I think that tells you
a lot about Jim Mercy.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Yeah, he's got Dwight.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
Dwight Freeny had him as well. We're seeing it right here,
the unveilance of Dwight's bust.
Speaker 8 (21:26):
Yeah, absolutely, And you know that that just is unique.
But it just demonstrates how Jim was his open door
policy and how those players felt about it and they
wanted to win for him, there's no question about it.
And he wanted to win for the city. Yes, he
took some personal satisfaction, I'm sure.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
But.
Speaker 8 (21:48):
Again, I remember when we had that parade and we're
back at the stadium after the game and we're sitting
around and he's looking this was a victory for Indianapolis,
for the state of Indiana, for our people, And that's
what I remember.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
You know, they're showing that. We showed a couple of times.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Jim Rsey covered in rain here on the on the
stage while he's accepting the Lombardi Trophy, because you remember
that Super Bowl there was.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
The rain, and listen, I talked about his love for
rock and roll.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
It's the greatest halftime show with Prince singing Purple Rain.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
In the rain, eating it up. He had to be
eating it up.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
Yeah, yeah, maybe you're making halftime adjustments. He's out there
devouring that.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
That halftime show.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
But that moment handing him, when he got handed the
trophy with the rain, Did you think about that over
the last day or so and what that meant?
Speaker 8 (22:36):
I absolutely have, because you know, again on that first
phone call, Hey, we want to win, but we want
to win the right way one to win with the
right type of people, with good role models, great role models.
As a matter of fact, we want to create a
team that the city of Indianapolis can be proud of.
And I remember telling him, Jim, we did exactly what
you talked about. This is a team that the Colts
(23:00):
have put out there that the city is going to
be proud of.
Speaker 4 (23:03):
And I remember hugging him.
Speaker 8 (23:04):
And just just being so grateful that I was able
to be part of bringing his dream to reality.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Yep, what a great night for Indianapolis, for you, for
Jim Ersay, despite the fact that you kicked it to
Devin Hester, I've talked about you that before.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
With you, I know that that was the one that inspired.
Speaker 10 (23:21):
Me on the spot coming out and right there, that
is the patience of Jim Ersay, a terrific owner and
a terrific gentleman and a terrific boss.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
For the likes of you, the coaches, the employees, the
players who have been through the organization, we wish you
all condolences and peace in the memory of Jim Ersa.
Tony Dungee, we appreciate your time joining us here on
the Insiders.
Speaker 8 (23:49):
Well, thank you so much. Very sad day for the
Coles family. But I think back to the seven years
I spent working there. Couldn't have worked for a better owner.
And I loved him and I missed him already very well.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
Said thank you, Tony Dongee.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
That's how you remember someone.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Thank you so much, Tony Dungee for your insight and
your memories there.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
We'll be back after the break on the.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Insiders talking about Ben Johnson his impact on Caleb Williams.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Baldy's got some thoughts. That's next.
Speaker 9 (24:28):
The wait is over and.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
The countdown the kickoff has begun. Single game tickets for
the twenty twenty five NFL season.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
Are on sale now.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
Visit NFL dot com slash tickets to purchase tickets today.
Tickets are available through the NFL ticket network, including Ticketmaster,
see geek and supports illustrated tickets. I just set a
record for saying the word tickets the most times in
thirty seconds. New today we had this one show Murphy Bunting.
Unclear exactly what's going on here, but place in the
(24:57):
reserve non football injury list. The veteran cornerback by the Cardinals.
His twenty twenty five season is over. Meanwhile, the career
is getting started for Abdua Carter. The Giants pick at
number three overall, one of their two first rounders, four
year deal that is done, as well as Derek Harmon,
the Steelers defensive lineman. We will talk to Alex Heighsmith
(25:18):
later in the show, and Derek Harmon is probably going
to be buying them dinner one of these days because
of that contract that.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
He signed right there.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
Meanwhile, Ben Johnson, there's a story that came out Seth
Wickersham of ESPN reporting that Caleb Williams didn't want to
go to Chicago. Well, Ben Johnson wasn't there at the time.
So here's Ben Johnson, the accomplished offensive coordinator now head
coach of the Bears, with a chance to change the narrative.
Speaker 9 (25:44):
I love it. I love it.
Speaker 11 (25:46):
I love the opportunity to come on in and change
that narrative. That's where great stories are written, and so
we're looking to write a new chapter here twenty twenty
five Chicago Bears and looking forward to the future.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
I involving a in with us.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
This is a fascinating pairing because Shane Waldron, from the
reporting that's out there, was very hands off as offensive coordinator.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Cayleb was watching film on his own.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
It is not a hands off head coach offensive coordinator.
Now that you've got Ben Johnson, so I'm fascinated to
see how this is going to work and how Johnson
can change the narrative.
Speaker 7 (26:19):
Baldy Well, I mean, you would look at one stat
at the end of the year here, Mike, and just
you know, the Bears have never had a four thousand
yard passer ever. Caleb could become the first guy. I mean,
that'd be a benchmark that would be worth starting with.
I mean, he just coached Jared Goff to three straight
years of over forty four hundred yards and then he
(26:40):
protected Jared gott very well.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
By running the ball.
Speaker 7 (26:44):
The improvement of the offensive line Caleb was sacked sixty
eight times to most of the league last year. Like
protecting the quarterback, getting the best out of him, upgrading
the offensive line. They've now got competition on the offensive line.
You go out, you get yourself the number one tight
end in your mind, you will out. You get yourself.
You know, Luther Burden in the slot. I mean, have
(27:04):
done everything they can do right now to really help
Caleb Williams. Now comes down to coach. Now comes down
to implementing the system, understanding the reeds, understanding how you
have to take care of the football, where to go
with the football. And I've been around Tailed since he
was at Gonzaga High School in Washington, DC. He's a
smart player. He understands scheme, he understands defenses. I think
(27:27):
you pair him in that room, in that film room
and they're studying together. I got to believe that we're
going to get a successful quarterback from cayleerb Williams match
with Ben Johnson this season.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
With his ability and with Johnson's ability to look at
the field, look at schemes, look at defenses, and find
ways to attack.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
This can be unlimited in a lot of ways.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
If he can tap into that potential and get Caleb
Williams moving in the right direction, have the coach in
the quarterback on the same page this upcoming season, Baldy,
thank you very much.
Speaker 12 (28:05):
Jones back to pass Jones in trouble and Jones is
going to be taken down. It is high Smith who
circled the wagons and got Jones to the ground, gets
a snap back to pass, steps up trouble and down
he goes in high Smith credit with his sack play
action pass and rolls to the left looking he's under
pressure and down he goes sack back inside the twenty
(28:27):
yard line. What a job, Alex Highsmith coming off the edge.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Yeah, Alex high Smith doing a bunch of that for
the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now joining us on the Insiders. Always
a great guest joining me. Mike Hera follow and Ian
Rapaport here. Thank you for joining us, Alex. You've been
around the building, off season workouts underway. We're getting into
Ota soon. Give me the vibe in Steeler Land right now.
Speaker 13 (28:52):
Yeah, it's a great vibe. First of all, thanks for
having me on. And I've been putting in work. Guys,
been getting better day by day and so on the
He's just got in the building recently too. So I'm
just really excited for what we're building and just can't
wait till you know, next week we got putting the
helmets on.
Speaker 9 (29:09):
Like I said, OTAs is phase three.
Speaker 13 (29:11):
Can be playing some some real ball, some eleven on
eleven and stuff. So we're just excited just to contina
building and continua working in the process.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
Alex, you mentioned the rookies, it was somewhat of a
defense heavy draft, especially early Derek Harmon first round. I
know a lot of people were wondering the Steelers are
going to go quarterback instead. It was Derek Harmon the
defensive tackle ya ya Black. Also Jack Sawyer, another linebacker.
Have you met any of the rookies and what did
you think of the Steelers draft this year.
Speaker 13 (29:42):
Yeah, I've met a couple of them, and so I'm
just I'm super excited to really get in the building
and just be around all those guys. And I just
know that there's a lot of those guys, especially like
like you said, the ones that we drafted Derek and Yeah, yeah,
and Jack, all those guys are they produced at the
level that they played at in colleg and so just
like I said, all those guys are just gonna be
(30:02):
able to come in and.
Speaker 9 (30:04):
Be able to produce for us, be able to make
plays for us.
Speaker 13 (30:07):
And so I know all of them are just happy
to be be here in Pittsburgh and be in the
scheme and playing the scheme, and so, like I said,
all those guys are just gonna be able to make
a lot of plays for us.
Speaker 9 (30:17):
And so I'm excited for them all.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
Look, you know what Steelers football is going to be, right.
We know it's going to be tough, defensive football. We
know you're going to be competitive. We know what Mike
Tomlin brings to the table. What we don't know yet
is who the quarterback is going to be, right, Like,
that's that's the storyline with Pittsburgh this entire offseason. How
much have you been following it? How much are you
going to the building seeking answers? I mean what's being
said amongst the players as there's a wait for Aaron
(30:42):
Rodgers while also Mason Rudolph leading the way inside.
Speaker 13 (30:46):
Yeah, I think we just try to put our best
self forward every day. Like with who's in the building
right now, and I know Mason being there, he's done
a great job. You know, the guys are rallying around him,
and like I said, he's been he's been with us
before and guys know him, Pittsburgh fans know him, and
so the way that he helped us finish in twenty
thirty three was awesome. And so just no matter who
(31:08):
who's back there for this for whether it's whether it's
him or you know, if Aaron Rodgers is gonna come.
I'm just excited to know. I know we're gonna have
We're gonna have whoever's back there, we're gonna have their
backs and we're gonna rally behind them. And so just
decided for whatever it's going to be.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
I hate the word distraction because it's not like people
can't focus on two things. Plus it's also May, so
it's not like you're focusing that that much. It's not
like it's September or October. But the Rogers conversation has
been so much about what these Steelers off season has been.
I know, I go out and see people and everyone
in the world asked me when Rogers gonna sign with
the Steelers. Do every how many people ask you this?
(31:46):
And amongst the players, how much of this is part
of the daily conversation.
Speaker 13 (31:50):
Yeah, I mean I get asked a lot about my
peers and some friends, you know, who are fans and
stuff like that. But I just feel like in the
locker room and stuff, we're just we're in when they're working,
and I think that's just really what it's about at
this point. And so I know that if he does son,
we're definitely gonna be really excited to have him.
Speaker 9 (32:10):
We know who he is.
Speaker 13 (32:12):
He's a Hall of Fame quarterback, he's he's one of
the best to ever do it. And so just like
I said, I think it's I wouldn't say it's a
distraction at all, but like I said, I know what
we all know what type of quarterback he is and
what he brings to the table. And so, just like
I said earlier, no matter who's back there playing quarterback
for us, we're gonna rally around him. It's gonna be
it's gonna be great.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
You've been through a contract situation of your own a
couple of years ago. Yes, I know, Ian, you broke
the news that he agreed to a monster deal.
Speaker 9 (32:40):
Ian.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
I was on the practically obligated Alex to mention whenever
Ian breaks his story.
Speaker 9 (32:44):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
TJ Watt going through another one right now.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Posted a picture on Instagram with throwing the deuce up
and like everybody freaked out. And to me, it's like,
what if he just likes the picture. He's like, Oh,
this is a cool picture. I'm just gonna post this.
You know, how much have you been following this or
talk to him about that? And TJ Watt's not going anywhere,
and it could take a while before he gets a contract,
But you're not worried at all.
Speaker 13 (33:07):
Right, No, And I'm comfordent that I'm comfident he's not
going anywhere. And I mean it was a cool picture
at the game. I ain't going lie. But I know
that he loves being here. He loves being in Pittsburgh
and pissed the city of Pittsburgh loves him. And so
I know that they're going to do whatever they can
to get a deal done, and so hopefully sooner than later,
(33:29):
because everyone knows that he's a generational talent, generational player,
and so we all know that he wants to be
in this building.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
So it is.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
Now late May raining in Pittsburgh, just like it's been
raining in New York and New Jersey all the time.
But you're almost getting to that point where practice wind down,
you get to be away for the summer, you get
to clear your brain. What do you Alex do to Like,
do you forget about football? Do you totally clear things?
Like how do you chill before the season really kicks
(33:59):
in the gear?
Speaker 9 (34:00):
Yeah?
Speaker 13 (34:01):
I mean I still so during during the month. I
still train throughout the week, still getting my body ready
for camp and the season to come, but also just
really enjoying time and spending time post time with those
that I love, uh my wife, my family.
Speaker 9 (34:18):
Just getting to be able to do things like that.
It's just really special to me.
Speaker 13 (34:21):
And I always do my UH Foundation youth camp in
the summer, my youth football camp, and so I'm just
excited to that that's actually this weekend, so it won't
be uh during that month, uh during during the month
we have off, but I'm just decided to be able
to do that, get back to the community, get back
to woman, to North Carolina where I'm from, where I'm
born and raised, and so that's always special opportunity. And
(34:42):
on my summer and summer is one of my favorite
times of the year because I love the grill, and
everybody knows that during the summer, you know, you got
to get out and grill, and so I would say
that's one of my talents, one of my specialities. So
getting out there putting some steaks on the grill, I'm
really excited about that and just starting to fire.
Speaker 9 (34:58):
In the back.
Speaker 13 (34:58):
In the backyard, usually like what I'll do is I'll
usually like smoke some steaks or something on the trigger.
Then I got a large brio fire pit. I'll see
them over the brio, So like a reverse heer type thing.
But that's just like a that's like an ideal chill
night for me. You just spending time with my wife
and our dog. Ace is big burnerdoodle. He's the best.
(35:20):
But just really, you know, spending time with quality time
with people that I love and then also playing some
some golf here and there. Not not that good, but
I try to.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
I try to play whenever I can listen steaks, grilling,
golf bad or not. I mean, you are hitting all
the notes for me and Ian, So you just give
us the weekend. We'll get down to Wilmington, North Carolina.
I'm not trying to impose, but we just invited ourselves
to the high Smith household.
Speaker 9 (35:49):
Yep, hey, I'll fire it up. Trust me.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
There you go, you fired up, just like that girl.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
Alex always appreciate you being here with us on the Insiders.
If you want to kill some time and spend some
time with your your loved ones, that's us. You're welcome
to come back at some point during the summer, but
we'll see you absolutely during training camp and the season
as we get ready for the twenty twenty five NFL season.
Speaker 9 (36:08):
Thank you many you know it. Appreciate you guys, Thanks
for having.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
Thank you Alex.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
Alex likes to tackle guys like Josh Allen and other quarterbacks.
Michael ale f Flori are going to be a long
to talk about how Allen factors into his AFC East
fantasy preview for twenty five.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
That's next on The Insiders.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
If you're a lawyer follower of this show, and of
course you are your watching it literally right now, you
know that our guy Michael f Florio has been giving
us the fantasy breakdowns to the twenty twenty five season,
division by division, FLOURIO, welcome inside with the Insiders. Let's
go through today literally right now. The AFC East start
(36:57):
out with the New York Jets after this offseason.
Speaker 14 (37:01):
The biggest thing here is they have a new coach
and play caller. Their OC Tanner egg Strange comes from
the Lions with Aaron Glenn and the Lions were always
a run heavy offense defensive head coach. I expect that
to stay the same, which is why I love Justin Fields.
Since twenty twenty two, he leads qbs and touchdowns, and
only Lamar Jackson has more rushing yards on outside zone runs.
(37:22):
The Lions and Jets were both top six in those
plays last year.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
It's why I have Fields.
Speaker 14 (37:26):
Ranked as my QB seven, but you do not have
to pay anywhere near that price to get them, and
people are gonna say it's bad for the weapons. Fields
threw way more to his running backs the last two seasons,
so Breise Hall, who's already a target hog, has top
five upside, but you could get him in that RB
ten to fifteen range. And then Dj Moore just two
years ago had a career year with justin Fields.
Speaker 9 (37:46):
So I'm not.
Speaker 14 (37:47):
Shying away from Garrett Wilson, especially since he's cheaper than
ever in fantasy, and Mason Taylor. They're a young upside
tight end in the later rounds. Patriots also have a
new coach, though and play caller, and Mike Rabral years
as a head coach in the NFL, one time he's
finished higher than thirtieth, and pass attempts Josh McDaniels threw
a lot with Brady, not a whole lot after, which
(38:08):
is why I don't love it.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
But as the leader of the Drake May hype train.
I still like.
Speaker 14 (38:12):
Targeting him as a backup in the later rounds. He
brings a lot of upside and one thing that May
did a lot last year was throw to the slot.
McDaniels features his wide receiver one and the slot at
a high rate, which I think bolds well for Stefan
Diggs if he could return to his pre injury form.
Rookie Kyle Williams is a sleeper there as well. But
the big storyline this summer is going to be the
(38:33):
RB camp battle. Don't forget that McDaniels started Damian Harrison
over Ramandre Stevenson. It wasn't ntil McDaniels left that Stevenson
became the starter, and then once McDaniels was back, they
draft Henderson in round two. So that is going to
be a big camp battle to watch this summer.
Speaker 3 (38:50):
That's interesting of that, I reminders Stevens the greatest thing
in the whole world to see. But thank you for
your insight. Anyway, that's two of the teams. Let's go
through the other two. Hit me with the rest, starting
with the Miami Dolphins.
Speaker 14 (39:03):
Yeah, the Dolphins, we know they always love to pass
a ton but last year the deep ball just kind
of vanished from their offense, ended their efficiency. In fact,
last year they led the league in screen passes and.
Speaker 2 (39:15):
Look, Tua is just a backup.
Speaker 14 (39:17):
In fantasy they could get in the later rounds, but
his health means everything to this offense. Devon Hchen was
the highest scoring fantasy running back last season when Tua played,
and he averaged single digit fantasy points when he didn't.
Tyreek Hill and Waddle were both much better when Tua
was out there, and even though both are coming off
of a down year, you're not really getting much of
(39:37):
a discount on them in fantasy. So they both bring
a lot of upside, but there's risk there. I haven't
really found myself targeting them in early drafts. And then
John new Smith coming off a career year, very solid
tight end one. And then the Bills, the most straightforward
offense in this division. The play caller is the same,
the O line, the QB, the backfield, the tight ends
(39:58):
all the same. The only real is they brought in
Josh Palmer and Elijah Moore to replace MATC Collins, but
Joe Brady He's been top ten rushing attempts both years
with the Bills. Allen is still a top two fantasy QB,
but last year he did post five year lows and
pass attempts, yards and touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (40:16):
James Cook is a rock solid.
Speaker 14 (40:18):
RB one, but don't expect eighteen touchdowns again. And as
for the receivers, Shakira is the top target slot guy,
more of a floor play wide receiver three.
Speaker 2 (40:26):
But if you're chasing upside here.
Speaker 14 (40:28):
Key on Coleman versus Josh Palmer as the field stretchers.
That's going to be a big camp battle to watch
this summer.
Speaker 3 (40:34):
I would like to see Kean Coleman before the risk injury.
He was really seeming like he was on his way
to a big time season. We'll find out, though, We'll
find out hopefully he stays healthy to show us flour you,
thank you very much as all these great stuff. Looking
forward to the rest of all this.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
We are at that point of the offseason where the
helmets are going on, the players are back on the field.
It's getting closer and closer than looking like real football.
Can't wait to see what justin field is gonna look
like with that New York Jets offense in that New
New York Jets regime.
Speaker 2 (41:08):
Here is Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 1 (41:09):
We thought maybe we wouldn't see this again and maybe
in a.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
Raiders or Giants uniform.
Speaker 1 (41:14):
But Stafford decides to come back and says, oh, look
at this new target.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
I've got myself with Davante Adams.
Speaker 1 (41:20):
Another fascinating thing to watch play out in the.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
Twenty twenty five season. But we're not there yet.
Speaker 1 (41:27):
It's still the offseason, which means it's time to go
swimming with Baldy.
Speaker 4 (41:54):
I think they're kind of the prior scene.
Speaker 7 (41:58):
Leave anything else anyways, just do the old up and
down out here.
Speaker 2 (42:05):
I mean, are lionfish safe?
Speaker 7 (42:07):
No, listen to this, Mike in the end, pay attention here.
These are predators. These are predators.
Speaker 4 (42:11):
They eat coral.
Speaker 7 (42:13):
They eat coral the way Max Brosby eats run blocks.
They're predators. And so I'm just down there studying predators
right now and seeing what I can do. They're also
very tasty, so I might have to bring the spear
down there to take one away from me.
Speaker 4 (42:27):
Yes, that's right, predators.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
Baldy gonna be a predator.
Speaker 1 (42:32):
Join us tomorrow for more fish, maybe definitely quitting Lake
lamb Safety.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
Joining us there what
Remember that devastating injury for Aiden Hutchinson, that broken leg
that everyone, not just Lions fans, everyone was heartbroken about. Well,
great news from the Lions pass rusher as he gets
deep into the off season.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Program.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Will have that later for you. It's great news for
everybody except quarterbacks. Speaking of the guys who like to
tackle quarterbacks. Alex high Smith, Steelers pass rusher set to join.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Us later in the program. Always a great visit with him.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Maybe he knows if that guy who was just in
the backfield there, Aaron Rodgers, is going to grace us
with a decision too. We'll ask him about it, and
the Eagles say, yeah, keep pushing. I think I saw
that they're actually printing push on T shirts now, like
they're really taking this one pretty far, all the way
into the end zone, kind of like the touch push itself.
We'll have more on the PUSH's survival of a valiant
(00:57):
effort from the Packers and their friends to try to
ban it. Well, come inside with the insiders, Ian Rappaport,
Steve Weisch joining us later in the program. Brian Baldinger
will be along Michael f Florio for all your fantasy needs.
I mentioned Alex Heismith will be with us, and Tony Dungee,
the former Indianapolis Colts head coach, will be with us
to talk about the passing of Jim Ersay, which occurred
(01:21):
just a day ago with the Colts making that announcement
a surprise to many folks in the NFL world, despite
the fact that Ersi Ersay, excuse me, had been dealing
with some health issues. Ian, let's go to you on
this one. Ian, your thoughts. I know you weren't on
the program yesterday. Your thoughts on Jim Ersay passing away.
(01:45):
I know we have had plenty of interactions with this guy,
one of the more unique personalities in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Yeah, there are two major things that come to my
mind about Jim Irsay And you're right, certainly unique individual.
Talk to people in the Colts building as I did today.
I mean, of all the things they talk about, it's
just how well he treated everyone, not just the star players,
or not just the coaches or coordinators, really everyone all
the way down the line. Just treated people, just treated
(02:13):
people the right way, but certainly had a different way
as an owner. Right, And what stands out to me
talking about owners meetings Obviously this broke when the Minnesota
owners meetings that Spring meetings were happening yesterday. The memory
I have is when there was all the stuff swirling
about Dan Snyder and all the lawsuits and all the allegations,
(02:34):
and we were all wondering about how long was Dan
Snyder going to be the owner of the Washington franchise.
And Jim Mercy was the first owner to put himself
out there and say there is merit to removing Dan Snyder.
I couldn't believe it when he said it. He was
very serious, He knew what would come with it, knew
what the blowback would be. Said it anyway proved to
(02:55):
be one of the more valuable and important things an
owner has said in recent times. Then the other thing
that comes to my mind twenty sixteen. This seems like
ancient history, but Chuck Pegano and Mark Grigson were a
little bit at odds the franchise were not going in
the right direction, and we all had been talking about, well,
obviously Ersay is going to fire them, either one or
both or this cannot be right. We just assumed, as
(03:19):
every owner does, it's not working, just fire instead. Ers
sat down, both men at like a midnight little meeting
and got their heads together, got them to work together,
and really made it all work. And it was That's
not what every owner would have done. Believe me. Firing
was much easier, much easier. Getting those minds to come
(03:41):
together and make sense of the thing and just work
together in the right direction was pretty cool, honestly, And
it was very very Jim Orsay.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
Yeah, and he is.
Speaker 5 (03:51):
He was definitely one of most unique people, especially when
it comes to owners, that any of us have ever
dealt with. He was He was his own person and
developed his own legacy. You can see just all of
the comments so many people who've dealt with him over
the years have put on social media or whatever. But
there's no greater legacy you can have as a parent
than your children. And while we're still mourning the loss
(04:13):
of Jim Ursay, a succession plan has been somewhat been
established over the years, although nothing's been made official, where
his three daughters, Carly, Casey, and Kaylin, who are all
part owners, will share ownership of this team. Everybody expects Carly,
his oldest daughter, to really be the lead in the
(04:33):
front of the face of this organization. She's represented Ursay,
She's been to league meetings with him on several occasions,
been very front forward with the organization. So his daughters
again will likely share ownership, but again Carly the oldest
daughter and.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Likely will take the lead.
Speaker 5 (04:49):
And she's got some big and interesting shoes to fill
and those are of her father.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Car the Airs Gordon ran the franchise when her father
was suspense he had been going through treatment in the past.
So she does have the experience of being in that seat,
of being in that owner's chair, and does have the
respect of.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Many in the building as well as those around the.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
NFL for the numerous initiatives that she has been a
part of as well. So the Colts very much in
good hands and very much a part of the plan
that Jim Ersay had all along to pass the team
over to his daughters, maybe a little sooner than he
and many expected.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
One of those folks being Anthony.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Richardson, the current quarterbacker buying for the starting quarterback job
with the Colts. Right there you see his post on
social media, rest easy, Big Guy on his Instagram story.
And then there's Andrew Luck releasing a statement about him
being sat by the passing of Jim Ersay and how
much Luck knows that he loved and cared deeply for
(05:51):
the players, the fans, the Colts organization. We've heard that
repeatedly from folks, and I'm sure we're going to hear
that from Tony Dundee later in the program we have
him on to talk about his experience playing or coaching
for and being a part of the Colt's organization with
Jim Ersay as owner. There was NFL business that was
(06:14):
conducted yesterday at a meeting of the owners in Minnesota
with regard to the Tush push Ian and the fact
that the Packers had proposed, initially earlier in this offseason
to ban it. The conversation was kicked down the road
at the March meeting and a lot of folks thought,
here it comes, Tush push about to be banned. However,
(06:34):
only twenty two votes. I say only he needed twenty
four to make the change. Rich McKaley, head of the
Competition Committee, saying that it's good that the threshold is
so high to make some changes didn't quite get there.
Toush Push remains legal Ian push on say the.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Eagles, Oh yeah, the Eagles are saying that they are
pushing on with tweets and with merchandise and all sorts
of stuff to kind of champion their cause. And that
really is what it's becoming. If you know anything about
Nick Sirianni, I wouldn't be surprised if he does as
a bunch this year, even more than he originally planned,
if only to show people that they're just going to
(07:09):
keep doing it. But you're right, it was a little
bit of a surprise thing. Most people I spoke with
believe that once the NFL got behind it, once the
Competition Committee got behind it, once the health and safety
people at the NFL got behind it, that this was
certainly going to go go away. Right, They come up
with different language and makes sense. So it's not just
your banning one play. This was all set to be banned,
(07:29):
to be removed. Everyone would else would go on their
married way. They just didn't have the votes, And you know,
certainly there's some disappointment, right, but stee, they just didn't
have the votes. And this is what it should be.
It should be if you were going to make a
significant step like banning a big time play that you know,
led the egos to a bunch of touchdowns, it should
be nearly unanimous. This was highly contested and it was
(07:51):
not unanimous by a long shot. Now, at least this
year it sticks. We'll see about next year.
Speaker 4 (07:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
What's interesting is when we were at the league meetings
earlier this year, it was mainly the coaches who had
the big opinions on this. Hey, we shouldn't punish a
team first doing something well, or we don't like this
play doesn't belong in football. And this really seems like
a time when the owners listen to their coaches. A
lot of times they don't do that and they just
set policy based on what they discussed in the room.
And as we know that Eagles owner Jeffy Lury gave
(08:19):
an impassioned plea to his owner saying, look, this is
part of a game that we've been able to do well.
You guys can copy it. It's out there for you guys.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
To do it.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
Some of you guys just don't do it as good
as us, so don't punish us before then. And of
course Jason Kelsey, the center who was part of the
touch push for years, he was in that meeting as well.
But the fact that the Eagles were successful with this,
to me and he said, we'll see if we revisit this.
I think the only way this gets revisited is if
a significant injury happens, which is what people were predicting. Hey,
let's get ahead of this before one does happen, even
(08:52):
though there's been no evidence or history of a significant
injury happening because of this play.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Yeah, I think it's a If there's an injury on
this play this upcoming season, I think it's pretty clear
you get the two more votes that you need to
get it banned.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
If there's not, does it swing back in the other direction?
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Does it go from twenty two down to twenty eighteen
or even lower?
Speaker 2 (09:11):
And people say, you know what, it's a safe play.
It doesn't look like a football play.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
But frankly, who cares what Ian Rappaport thinks about the play.
If it's successful, let the Eagles and everybody continue to
run the play. I love you, and I really love
the fact that the play is still in there and
we could talk about this for another year.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
And I love the fact that Aiden Hutchinson is back.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Look at this guy, I mean, this guy had a
terrible broken leg suffered too early last season. Says he's
fully clear now and given the green light to resume
all football activities.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
That is great news.
Speaker 6 (09:42):
Aiden Hudginson, I got cleared a while back, and now
I'm just I'm wrong with the boys now and it
feels like it feels like I'm back to being myself again.
And yeah, I'm really looking forward to the season. I'm
looking forward to I mean, I think this is the
most excited I've been for OTAs in my life. This
(10:03):
is the biggest hiatus I've had without playing ball. So
I am, I'm pumped.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Brian Baldinger is pumped.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
He loves himself some Aidan Hutchinson. The folks in Detroit
are pumped. That was a devastating injury. They had so
many injuries last year that you wonder how much did
that one in particular, certainly more than some other ones,
but how much did that one in particular really stop
them from getting to the promised land of the super Bowl?
Speaker 2 (10:29):
And how much is having him back gonna help?
Speaker 1 (10:31):
So ian talking about Aiden Hutchinson in his return, what
does it mean for him, for the Lions forever, for everybody.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Well, let's talk about specifically Aiden Hutchinson being cleared for
full activities a significant piece of news for the Lions because, look,
you thought he would make a full recovery, but you
never really know, right, So, Okay, he's made a full recovery.
That's very good news football wise. Contractually, it's excellent, excellent
news for Aiden Hutchinson because it's not like the Lions
(10:59):
did think that he was going to recover properly. They
believed he would. They believed you back to full strength.
They had full confidence in that. You're not going to
make someone among the highest paid edge rushers in the
NFL without some certainty. So it does seem like while
there had been some talk, some discussion, it seemed like
the Lions kind of moved to pay him, was waiting
(11:21):
until he got fully cleared. Now he is, so now
they can really kickstart the conversations, really, you know, have
those discussions about making him one of the highest paid
edge rushers in the NFL. We'll see where it ends
up landing with Miles Garrett and all of those guys.
There's a couple other edges you need to get paid,
but probably wasn't gonna happen unless he was cleared. Now
he is, and it's time to give this guy all
(11:42):
of the money that he deserves, which is a lot
of it. Maldi.
Speaker 7 (11:45):
Well, you know this is we're of the star business.
The stars win games. Aiden Hutchinson is a star, and
they missed him. In fact, in only the five games
he'd played in only five games, he still led the
team in sacks a year ago, way more than just SAPs.
I mean, he lines up inside, outside, He's intercepted Aaron
Rodgers in the end zone, he could drop into coverage.
(12:09):
This was not a good defensive team down the stretch.
They gave up forty eight points and a home loss
to Buffalo. In December, they gave up forty five points
to the Commanders and a playoff loss at home in
the play and that was devastating. And they missed basically
the guy that is the heart and soul of this defense.
And it starts, it always starts up front. And so
(12:30):
getting him back, watching him run there, you know, if
the practice facility is really I mean, it's got to
be great feeling for him personally, but for any Lion
fan out there, and any teammate and every coach that
has to now replace you know, Aaron Glanders, defensive coordinator,
defensive line coaches that have moved on. It is a
great feeling watching him run so freely like that for
(12:54):
every Lion fan right now.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
And you talked about the contracts for the edge rushers,
Miles Garrett leading the way at forty million, but we've
got TJ. Watts still to be still to be done
with the Steelers, so Aiden Hutchinson's going to be looking
to push that number even higher. He's about to be
a very very rich man being cleared. Good for him financially,
great for the Lions from a football perspective. Thank you
both for your insight, the Colts and the NFL community.
(13:22):
Remembering Jim Ersay, who passed away yesterday at the age
of sixty five. A sudden development, despite the fact that
Ersay had experienced some health issues in the last couple
of years, but certainly one that caught a lot of
folks by surprise. So we have been collecting and sharing
memories of Ersay for over a day now. Lucas Oil Stadium, Yeah,
(13:45):
that's the house that Peyton built, but Jim Ersay was
the architect. Jim Irsay, the architect of the Eric Dickerson
trade so many years ago, and the Colts drafting Peyton Manning,
as well as hiring a number of influential head coaches.
And I know one is stand by right now listening
to me. Say that is going to join us momentarily.
Here's the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So sadden to
(14:06):
hear about the passing of Jim Ersa. Jim took ownership
of the Colts in ninety seven, I found the passing
of his father. Since taking this role, he led the
team through several divisional titles, franchise second Super Bowl championships.
Our thoughts are with his family in the entire Cults organization.
During this difficult time, plenty of Hall of Famers came
through that Indianapolis organization, including this one right here, Tony
(14:27):
Dungee joining us here on the insiders. Tony, we appreciate
your time, and a lot of folks have wanted to
hear from you in the wake of the passing of Jim, irsay,
because you work so closely alongside him from two thousand
and two to two thousand and eight. So our condolences
to you and just your overall thoughts when you heard
this news yesterday of the passing of one of the
(14:49):
NFL's most unique personalities.
Speaker 8 (14:51):
No, it was just devastating to me because Jim and
I just shared a special relationship. He called me in
two thousand and two in January after I got let
go by the Bucks and really just said, Tony, you're
the guy that I want to coach our team. And
he shared with me his dream and his vision for
the team, and it was just what I was looking for.
(15:14):
He said, we haven't been here a long time, we
don't have a seventy five or eighty year history like
some of the other franchises. We've got to connect with
our fan base. We've got to make Indianapolis feel like
we're their team. And I want to do it the
right way with the right kind of guys. We want
good role models. We were going to win, but we
want to do it the right way. And I'm on
the phone right here where I'm sitting in my office
(15:36):
here in Tampa and listening to him, and he got
me with that, Okay, that's what I want to do too.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Let's do this together.
Speaker 8 (15:44):
And it was a deal made over the phone just
like that.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
And what we're saying here, getting.
Speaker 8 (15:51):
The AFC Championship trophy and the Super Bowl trophy, I'll
never forget talking to him and saying, Jim, this is
what you talked about, this was your this is your vision,
and we did it.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
And that's to me what made him special.
Speaker 8 (16:06):
Yes he wanted to have a good team, Yes we
wanted to win, but he was family all the way.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
Tony to kind of dovetail off of that, what was
your perception of him before that phone call, and then
what was your perception of him after you decided to
retire or even after that.
Speaker 8 (16:26):
No, before before that phone call, my perception of the
Colts was, well, this is the franchise John Elway didn't
want to play for.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
This is the franchise that moved.
Speaker 8 (16:37):
This is the quirky guy that I see around sometime.
Didn't have a great impression of them. But after we
were on the phone about forty five minutes and after
that call, I said, man, I think very differently. And
then after I got there and started working there and
was around him every day to see really what he
wanted and to see his heart, and then to see
(16:59):
some of the things that he did Steve in the
background that nobody knew about the kids that he would
bring by the facility, that hey, this young man just
lost his dad in a car accident. I want you
guys to welcome him and take care of him. This
young lady's sick and she's going through some tough time.
Let her know that the Colts care. He did that
all the time, without ever anyone noticing, taking care of
(17:23):
players and players' families and solving problems for them, and
just making us really one big unit. That was his dream,
that was his vision, And I had a much different
perception after being around him for six months than I
did in all the time leading up to that.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Tony, We've been running our little bit on Jim Rrisay
since last night and on our shows throughout this morning
as well. And in that clip he says, I want
the players to know when they get there on Sunday.
I'm paraphrasing, but he said that I did everything I
possibly could to put them in a position to win.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Repeat that back to you.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
What do you think of as far as what he
did as an owner, whether it was financially or whatever
he needed to do to set you guys up to win.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
He absolutely did. His door was wide open.
Speaker 8 (18:13):
Any player could come in and talk to him about
anything at any time.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
They all knew that, and they took advantage of it.
Speaker 8 (18:19):
One of the best examples we played a game out
in Seattle, a preseason game, and they had the new
field turf and our guys played on it, and they
went to them and said, man, this turf is so
much softer, it's so much better than.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
What we had. He took out the astro turf at.
Speaker 8 (18:37):
The RCA Dome, took out the AstroTurf at our facility
and put it in because the players wanted it. And
that's the way he was about it everything. If you
guys wanted, if you guys need it, and it's going
to help us, we'll get it done some way, somehow.
Speaker 5 (18:51):
Tony, We've all had interesting discussions with Jim.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Like we've talked about, he was a quirky guy. He
was a different guy.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
Did he ever with everything he went through and we're
always talking about what he did for others? Did he
ever seek your counsel or the counsel of others to
maybe get him through a difficult time or a difficult decision.
Speaker 8 (19:12):
He always talked to me about, you know, how I
had helped him, and just my faith and my personality
and just saying, hey, let's relax and ride this out.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
We're going to get through it.
Speaker 8 (19:22):
We had some conversation at times, but he was just
so special and so caring and some of the things
that he went through he wanted to.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
Make sure that other people didn't go through. And boy,
he was great.
Speaker 8 (19:36):
At that, providing the type of mentoring and you know,
everything that we needed with the cult when I.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Was there, he had that huge rock and roll collection,
and we know about his passion for music. How much
of that did you encounter when he was the owner
and he's telling you stories or maybe a showing some memorabilia,
what or remember about that part of j Mersay.
Speaker 8 (19:59):
I got to say every now and then he would,
you know, call me up and say come down to
the office.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
I've got something to show you.
Speaker 8 (20:05):
I know what it was gonna be, But that was
his passion and what that taught me that you can
have things in life that you really care about and
there's nothing wrong with that and pursue it. And he
was special that way, no doubt about it.
Speaker 9 (20:20):
Tony.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
You've got in the Pro Football Hall of Fame shirt.
We saw a picture on a social media post before
we came into the segment not included on. There was
also Bill Polling and Dwight Freeney. I mean six six
people from the time that you all were together there
with the Colts. What did it mean to Jim to
not only have a Super Bowl championship, but so many
people who he hired and brought along the way are
(20:43):
now entrned and can't forever.
Speaker 8 (20:46):
I think it was a good feeling for him that
he was picking good people and that we had success.
Speaker 4 (20:52):
And I think one of the things.
Speaker 8 (20:53):
That that points out that picture was Vegeran's induction and
James picked Jim Mercy to be his presenter.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Now, how many Steve have you been around a long time?
Speaker 8 (21:05):
How many players picked their owner to present them?
Speaker 4 (21:09):
It doesn't happen.
Speaker 8 (21:11):
But that's the kind of relationship he had with all
of his players, and that I think that tells you
a lot about Jim Mercy.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Yeah, he's got Dwight.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
Dwight Freeny had him as well. We're seeing it right here,
the unveilance of Dwight's bust.
Speaker 8 (21:26):
Yeah, absolutely, And you know that that just is unique.
But it just demonstrates how Jim was his open door
policy and how those players felt about it and they
wanted to win for him, there's no question about it.
And he wanted to win for the city. Yes, he
took some personal satisfaction, I'm sure.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
But.
Speaker 8 (21:48):
Again, I remember when we had that parade and we're
back at the stadium after the game and we're sitting
around and he's looking this was a victory for Indianapolis,
for the state of Indiana, for our people, And that's
what I remember.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
You know, they're showing that. We showed a couple of times.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Jim Rsey covered in rain here on the on the
stage while he's accepting the Lombardi Trophy, because you remember
that Super Bowl there was.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
The rain, and listen, I talked about his love for
rock and roll.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
It's the greatest halftime show with Prince singing Purple Rain.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
In the rain, eating it up. He had to be
eating it up.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
Yeah, yeah, maybe you're making halftime adjustments. He's out there
devouring that.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
That halftime show.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
But that moment handing him, when he got handed the
trophy with the rain, Did you think about that over
the last day or so and what that meant?
Speaker 8 (22:36):
I absolutely have, because you know, again on that first
phone call, Hey, we want to win, but we want
to win the right way one to win with the
right type of people, with good role models, great role models.
As a matter of fact, we want to create a
team that the city of Indianapolis can be proud of.
And I remember telling him, Jim, we did exactly what
you talked about. This is a team that the Colts
(23:00):
have put out there that the city is going to
be proud of.
Speaker 4 (23:03):
And I remember hugging him.
Speaker 8 (23:04):
And just just being so grateful that I was able
to be part of bringing his dream to reality.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Yep, what a great night for Indianapolis, for you, for
Jim Ersay, despite the fact that you kicked it to
Devin Hester, I've talked about you that before.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
With you, I know that that was the one that inspired.
Speaker 10 (23:21):
Me on the spot coming out and right there, that
is the patience of Jim Ersay, a terrific owner and
a terrific gentleman and a terrific boss.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
For the likes of you, the coaches, the employees, the
players who have been through the organization, we wish you
all condolences and peace in the memory of Jim Ersa.
Tony Dungee, we appreciate your time joining us here on
the Insiders.
Speaker 8 (23:49):
Well, thank you so much. Very sad day for the
Coles family. But I think back to the seven years
I spent working there. Couldn't have worked for a better owner.
And I loved him and I missed him already very well.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
Said thank you, Tony Dongee.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
That's how you remember someone.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Thank you so much, Tony Dungee for your insight and
your memories there.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
We'll be back after the break on the.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Insiders talking about Ben Johnson his impact on Caleb Williams.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Baldy's got some thoughts. That's next.
Speaker 9 (24:28):
The wait is over and.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
The countdown the kickoff has begun. Single game tickets for
the twenty twenty five NFL season.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
Are on sale now.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
Visit NFL dot com slash tickets to purchase tickets today.
Tickets are available through the NFL ticket network, including Ticketmaster,
see geek and supports illustrated tickets. I just set a
record for saying the word tickets the most times in
thirty seconds. New today we had this one show Murphy Bunting.
Unclear exactly what's going on here, but place in the
(24:57):
reserve non football injury list. The veteran cornerback by the Cardinals.
His twenty twenty five season is over. Meanwhile, the career
is getting started for Abdua Carter. The Giants pick at
number three overall, one of their two first rounders, four
year deal that is done, as well as Derek Harmon,
the Steelers defensive lineman. We will talk to Alex Heighsmith
(25:18):
later in the show, and Derek Harmon is probably going
to be buying them dinner one of these days because
of that contract that.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
He signed right there.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
Meanwhile, Ben Johnson, there's a story that came out Seth
Wickersham of ESPN reporting that Caleb Williams didn't want to
go to Chicago. Well, Ben Johnson wasn't there at the time.
So here's Ben Johnson, the accomplished offensive coordinator now head
coach of the Bears, with a chance to change the narrative.
Speaker 9 (25:44):
I love it. I love it.
Speaker 11 (25:46):
I love the opportunity to come on in and change
that narrative. That's where great stories are written, and so
we're looking to write a new chapter here twenty twenty
five Chicago Bears and looking forward to the future.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
I involving a in with us.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
This is a fascinating pairing because Shane Waldron, from the
reporting that's out there, was very hands off as offensive coordinator.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Cayleb was watching film on his own.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
It is not a hands off head coach offensive coordinator.
Now that you've got Ben Johnson, so I'm fascinated to
see how this is going to work and how Johnson
can change the narrative.
Speaker 7 (26:19):
Baldy Well, I mean, you would look at one stat
at the end of the year here, Mike, and just
you know, the Bears have never had a four thousand
yard passer ever. Caleb could become the first guy. I mean,
that'd be a benchmark that would be worth starting with.
I mean, he just coached Jared Goff to three straight
years of over forty four hundred yards and then he
(26:40):
protected Jared gott very well.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
By running the ball.
Speaker 7 (26:44):
The improvement of the offensive line Caleb was sacked sixty
eight times to most of the league last year. Like
protecting the quarterback, getting the best out of him, upgrading
the offensive line. They've now got competition on the offensive line.
You go out, you get yourself the number one tight
end in your mind, you will out. You get yourself.
You know, Luther Burden in the slot. I mean, have
(27:04):
done everything they can do right now to really help
Caleb Williams. Now comes down to coach. Now comes down
to implementing the system, understanding the reeds, understanding how you
have to take care of the football, where to go
with the football. And I've been around Tailed since he
was at Gonzaga High School in Washington, DC. He's a
smart player. He understands scheme, he understands defenses. I think
(27:27):
you pair him in that room, in that film room
and they're studying together. I got to believe that we're
going to get a successful quarterback from cayleerb Williams match
with Ben Johnson this season.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
With his ability and with Johnson's ability to look at
the field, look at schemes, look at defenses, and find
ways to attack.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
This can be unlimited in a lot of ways.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
If he can tap into that potential and get Caleb
Williams moving in the right direction, have the coach in
the quarterback on the same page this upcoming season, Baldy,
thank you very much.
Speaker 12 (28:05):
Jones back to pass Jones in trouble and Jones is
going to be taken down. It is high Smith who
circled the wagons and got Jones to the ground, gets
a snap back to pass, steps up trouble and down
he goes in high Smith credit with his sack play
action pass and rolls to the left looking he's under
pressure and down he goes sack back inside the twenty
(28:27):
yard line. What a job, Alex Highsmith coming off the edge.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Yeah, Alex high Smith doing a bunch of that for
the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now joining us on the Insiders. Always
a great guest joining me. Mike Hera follow and Ian
Rapaport here. Thank you for joining us, Alex. You've been
around the building, off season workouts underway. We're getting into
Ota soon. Give me the vibe in Steeler Land right now.
Speaker 13 (28:52):
Yeah, it's a great vibe. First of all, thanks for
having me on. And I've been putting in work. Guys,
been getting better day by day and so on the
He's just got in the building recently too. So I'm
just really excited for what we're building and just can't
wait till you know, next week we got putting the
helmets on.
Speaker 9 (29:09):
Like I said, OTAs is phase three.
Speaker 13 (29:11):
Can be playing some some real ball, some eleven on
eleven and stuff. So we're just excited just to contina
building and continua working in the process.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
Alex, you mentioned the rookies, it was somewhat of a
defense heavy draft, especially early Derek Harmon first round. I
know a lot of people were wondering the Steelers are
going to go quarterback instead. It was Derek Harmon the
defensive tackle ya ya Black. Also Jack Sawyer, another linebacker.
Have you met any of the rookies and what did
you think of the Steelers draft this year.
Speaker 13 (29:42):
Yeah, I've met a couple of them, and so I'm
just I'm super excited to really get in the building
and just be around all those guys. And I just
know that there's a lot of those guys, especially like
like you said, the ones that we drafted Derek and Yeah, yeah,
and Jack, all those guys are they produced at the
level that they played at in colleg and so just
like I said, all those guys are just gonna be
(30:02):
able to come in and.
Speaker 9 (30:04):
Be able to produce for us, be able to make
plays for us.
Speaker 13 (30:07):
And so I know all of them are just happy
to be be here in Pittsburgh and be in the
scheme and playing the scheme, and so, like I said,
all those guys are just gonna be able to make
a lot of plays for us.
Speaker 9 (30:17):
And so I'm excited for them all.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
Look, you know what Steelers football is going to be, right.
We know it's going to be tough, defensive football. We
know you're going to be competitive. We know what Mike
Tomlin brings to the table. What we don't know yet
is who the quarterback is going to be, right, Like,
that's that's the storyline with Pittsburgh this entire offseason. How
much have you been following it? How much are you
going to the building seeking answers? I mean what's being
said amongst the players as there's a wait for Aaron
(30:42):
Rodgers while also Mason Rudolph leading the way inside.
Speaker 13 (30:46):
Yeah, I think we just try to put our best
self forward every day. Like with who's in the building
right now, and I know Mason being there, he's done
a great job. You know, the guys are rallying around him,
and like I said, he's been he's been with us
before and guys know him, Pittsburgh fans know him, and
so the way that he helped us finish in twenty
thirty three was awesome. And so just no matter who
(31:08):
who's back there for this for whether it's whether it's
him or you know, if Aaron Rodgers is gonna come.
I'm just excited to know. I know we're gonna have
We're gonna have whoever's back there, we're gonna have their
backs and we're gonna rally behind them. And so just
decided for whatever it's going to be.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
I hate the word distraction because it's not like people
can't focus on two things. Plus it's also May, so
it's not like you're focusing that that much. It's not
like it's September or October. But the Rogers conversation has
been so much about what these Steelers off season has been.
I know, I go out and see people and everyone
in the world asked me when Rogers gonna sign with
the Steelers. Do every how many people ask you this?
(31:46):
And amongst the players, how much of this is part
of the daily conversation.
Speaker 13 (31:50):
Yeah, I mean I get asked a lot about my
peers and some friends, you know, who are fans and
stuff like that. But I just feel like in the
locker room and stuff, we're just we're in when they're working,
and I think that's just really what it's about at
this point. And so I know that if he does son,
we're definitely gonna be really excited to have him.
Speaker 9 (32:10):
We know who he is.
Speaker 13 (32:12):
He's a Hall of Fame quarterback, he's he's one of
the best to ever do it. And so just like
I said, I think it's I wouldn't say it's a
distraction at all, but like I said, I know what
we all know what type of quarterback he is and
what he brings to the table. And so, just like
I said earlier, no matter who's back there playing quarterback
for us, we're gonna rally around him. It's gonna be
it's gonna be great.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
You've been through a contract situation of your own a
couple of years ago. Yes, I know, Ian, you broke
the news that he agreed to a monster deal.
Speaker 9 (32:40):
Ian.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
I was on the practically obligated Alex to mention whenever
Ian breaks his story.
Speaker 9 (32:44):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
TJ Watt going through another one right now.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Posted a picture on Instagram with throwing the deuce up
and like everybody freaked out. And to me, it's like,
what if he just likes the picture. He's like, Oh,
this is a cool picture. I'm just gonna post this.
You know, how much have you been following this or
talk to him about that? And TJ Watt's not going anywhere,
and it could take a while before he gets a contract,
But you're not worried at all.
Speaker 13 (33:07):
Right, No, And I'm comfordent that I'm comfident he's not
going anywhere. And I mean it was a cool picture
at the game. I ain't going lie. But I know
that he loves being here. He loves being in Pittsburgh
and pissed the city of Pittsburgh loves him. And so
I know that they're going to do whatever they can
to get a deal done, and so hopefully sooner than later,
(33:29):
because everyone knows that he's a generational talent, generational player,
and so we all know that he wants to be
in this building.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
So it is.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
Now late May raining in Pittsburgh, just like it's been
raining in New York and New Jersey all the time.
But you're almost getting to that point where practice wind down,
you get to be away for the summer, you get
to clear your brain. What do you Alex do to Like,
do you forget about football? Do you totally clear things?
Like how do you chill before the season really kicks
(33:59):
in the gear?
Speaker 9 (34:00):
Yeah?
Speaker 13 (34:01):
I mean I still so during during the month. I
still train throughout the week, still getting my body ready
for camp and the season to come, but also just
really enjoying time and spending time post time with those
that I love, uh my wife, my family.
Speaker 9 (34:18):
Just getting to be able to do things like that.
It's just really special to me.
Speaker 13 (34:21):
And I always do my UH Foundation youth camp in
the summer, my youth football camp, and so I'm just
excited to that that's actually this weekend, so it won't
be uh during that month, uh during during the month
we have off, but I'm just decided to be able
to do that, get back to the community, get back
to woman, to North Carolina where I'm from, where I'm
born and raised, and so that's always special opportunity. And
(34:42):
on my summer and summer is one of my favorite
times of the year because I love the grill, and
everybody knows that during the summer, you know, you got
to get out and grill, and so I would say
that's one of my talents, one of my specialities. So
getting out there putting some steaks on the grill, I'm
really excited about that and just starting to fire.
Speaker 9 (34:58):
In the back.
Speaker 13 (34:58):
In the backyard, usually like what I'll do is I'll
usually like smoke some steaks or something on the trigger.
Then I got a large brio fire pit. I'll see
them over the brio, So like a reverse heer type thing.
But that's just like a that's like an ideal chill
night for me. You just spending time with my wife
and our dog. Ace is big burnerdoodle. He's the best.
(35:20):
But just really, you know, spending time with quality time
with people that I love and then also playing some
some golf here and there. Not not that good, but
I try to.
Speaker 1 (35:29):
I try to play whenever I can listen steaks, grilling,
golf bad or not. I mean, you are hitting all
the notes for me and Ian, So you just give
us the weekend. We'll get down to Wilmington, North Carolina.
I'm not trying to impose, but we just invited ourselves
to the high Smith household.
Speaker 9 (35:49):
Yep, hey, I'll fire it up. Trust me.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
There you go, you fired up, just like that girl.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
Alex always appreciate you being here with us on the Insiders.
If you want to kill some time and spend some
time with your your loved ones, that's us. You're welcome
to come back at some point during the summer, but
we'll see you absolutely during training camp and the season
as we get ready for the twenty twenty five NFL season.
Speaker 9 (36:08):
Thank you many you know it. Appreciate you guys, Thanks
for having.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
Thank you Alex.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
Alex likes to tackle guys like Josh Allen and other quarterbacks.
Michael ale f Flori are going to be a long
to talk about how Allen factors into his AFC East
fantasy preview for twenty five.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
That's next on The Insiders.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
If you're a lawyer follower of this show, and of
course you are your watching it literally right now, you
know that our guy Michael f Florio has been giving
us the fantasy breakdowns to the twenty twenty five season,
division by division, FLOURIO, welcome inside with the Insiders. Let's
go through today literally right now. The AFC East start
(36:57):
out with the New York Jets after this offseason.
Speaker 14 (37:01):
The biggest thing here is they have a new coach
and play caller. Their OC Tanner egg Strange comes from
the Lions with Aaron Glenn and the Lions were always
a run heavy offense defensive head coach. I expect that
to stay the same, which is why I love Justin Fields.
Since twenty twenty two, he leads qbs and touchdowns, and
only Lamar Jackson has more rushing yards on outside zone runs.
(37:22):
The Lions and Jets were both top six in those
plays last year.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
It's why I have Fields.
Speaker 14 (37:26):
Ranked as my QB seven, but you do not have
to pay anywhere near that price to get them, and
people are gonna say it's bad for the weapons. Fields
threw way more to his running backs the last two seasons,
so Breise Hall, who's already a target hog, has top
five upside, but you could get him in that RB
ten to fifteen range. And then Dj Moore just two
years ago had a career year with justin Fields.
Speaker 9 (37:46):
So I'm not.
Speaker 14 (37:47):
Shying away from Garrett Wilson, especially since he's cheaper than
ever in fantasy, and Mason Taylor. They're a young upside
tight end in the later rounds. Patriots also have a
new coach, though and play caller, and Mike Rabral years
as a head coach in the NFL, one time he's
finished higher than thirtieth, and pass attempts Josh McDaniels threw
a lot with Brady, not a whole lot after, which
(38:08):
is why I don't love it.
Speaker 2 (38:09):
But as the leader of the Drake May hype train.
I still like.
Speaker 14 (38:12):
Targeting him as a backup in the later rounds. He
brings a lot of upside and one thing that May
did a lot last year was throw to the slot.
McDaniels features his wide receiver one and the slot at
a high rate, which I think bolds well for Stefan
Diggs if he could return to his pre injury form.
Rookie Kyle Williams is a sleeper there as well. But
the big storyline this summer is going to be the
(38:33):
RB camp battle. Don't forget that McDaniels started Damian Harrison
over Ramandre Stevenson. It wasn't ntil McDaniels left that Stevenson
became the starter, and then once McDaniels was back, they
draft Henderson in round two. So that is going to
be a big camp battle to watch this summer.
Speaker 3 (38:50):
That's interesting of that, I reminders Stevens the greatest thing
in the whole world to see. But thank you for
your insight. Anyway, that's two of the teams. Let's go
through the other two. Hit me with the rest, starting
with the Miami Dolphins.
Speaker 14 (39:03):
Yeah, the Dolphins, we know they always love to pass
a ton but last year the deep ball just kind
of vanished from their offense, ended their efficiency. In fact,
last year they led the league in screen passes and.
Speaker 2 (39:15):
Look, Tua is just a backup.
Speaker 14 (39:17):
In fantasy they could get in the later rounds, but
his health means everything to this offense. Devon Hchen was
the highest scoring fantasy running back last season when Tua played,
and he averaged single digit fantasy points when he didn't.
Tyreek Hill and Waddle were both much better when Tua
was out there, and even though both are coming off
of a down year, you're not really getting much of
(39:37):
a discount on them in fantasy. So they both bring
a lot of upside, but there's risk there. I haven't
really found myself targeting them in early drafts. And then
John new Smith coming off a career year, very solid
tight end one. And then the Bills, the most straightforward
offense in this division. The play caller is the same,
the O line, the QB, the backfield, the tight ends
(39:58):
all the same. The only real is they brought in
Josh Palmer and Elijah Moore to replace MATC Collins, but
Joe Brady He's been top ten rushing attempts both years
with the Bills. Allen is still a top two fantasy QB,
but last year he did post five year lows and
pass attempts, yards and touchdowns.
Speaker 2 (40:16):
James Cook is a rock solid.
Speaker 14 (40:18):
RB one, but don't expect eighteen touchdowns again. And as
for the receivers, Shakira is the top target slot guy,
more of a floor play wide receiver three.
Speaker 2 (40:26):
But if you're chasing upside here.
Speaker 14 (40:28):
Key on Coleman versus Josh Palmer as the field stretchers.
That's going to be a big camp battle to watch
this summer.
Speaker 3 (40:34):
I would like to see Kean Coleman before the risk injury.
He was really seeming like he was on his way
to a big time season. We'll find out, though, We'll
find out hopefully he stays healthy to show us flour you,
thank you very much as all these great stuff. Looking
forward to the rest of all this.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
We are at that point of the offseason where the
helmets are going on, the players are back on the field.
It's getting closer and closer than looking like real football.
Can't wait to see what justin field is gonna look
like with that New York Jets offense in that New
New York Jets regime.
Speaker 2 (41:08):
Here is Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 1 (41:09):
We thought maybe we wouldn't see this again and maybe
in a.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
Raiders or Giants uniform.
Speaker 1 (41:14):
But Stafford decides to come back and says, oh, look
at this new target.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
I've got myself with Davante Adams.
Speaker 1 (41:20):
Another fascinating thing to watch play out in the.
Speaker 2 (41:24):
Twenty twenty five season. But we're not there yet.
Speaker 1 (41:27):
It's still the offseason, which means it's time to go
swimming with Baldy.
Speaker 4 (41:54):
I think they're kind of the prior scene.
Speaker 7 (41:58):
Leave anything else anyways, just do the old up and
down out here.
Speaker 2 (42:05):
I mean, are lionfish safe?
Speaker 7 (42:07):
No, listen to this, Mike in the end, pay attention here.
These are predators. These are predators.
Speaker 4 (42:11):
They eat coral.
Speaker 7 (42:13):
They eat coral the way Max Brosby eats run blocks.
They're predators. And so I'm just down there studying predators
right now and seeing what I can do. They're also
very tasty, so I might have to bring the spear
down there to take one away from me.
Speaker 4 (42:27):
Yes, that's right, predators.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
Baldy gonna be a predator.
Speaker 1 (42:32):
Join us tomorrow for more fish, maybe definitely quitting Lake
lamb Safety.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
Joining us there what
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