NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport break down the biggest stories across the leagues including Dak Prescott giving his impression of the Cowboys new coaching staff, how the Steelers are handling the contract impasse with TJ Watt, and which teams are looking impressive during mini camps. Plus. Marc Ross joins the show to discuss the contract drama within the Bengals organization with first-round pick Shemar Stewart and star pass-rusher Tre Hendrickson. Plus, we’re giving out birthday wishes to a special fan.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Dek is back from another season ending injury, and he
hopes to Pro Bowl form under a new head coach.
Here what the Cowboys QB had to say today about
the team's new regime as mini camp wraps up in Dallas.
Who else could be headed for an offensive uptick El,
Steve Woitz, and Mark Ross have some thoughts.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
They'll be here to tell you who they believe.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Has top ten potential in twenty twenty five. You would
think that the Bears might make that list, but the
Chicago defense also will have a new look. Two time
Pro Bowl quarterback Jaylon Johnson joins US tonight to give
his outlook on the NFC North and why it all
starts with Caleb Williams. Welcome inside with the Insiders alongside
(00:54):
Ian Rapaport, I am Tom Pelisero. Eighty four days away
from kickoff in the NFL. You're doing the math on that.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Twelve weeks from tonight, it's Cowboys and Eagles to kick
off the twenty twenty five season. The Cowboys one of
twenty five teams wrapping up mini camp this week, which
means that we are required by law to take you
to Dallas right now. You had some new parts on
the field in Dallas. Certainly the coaching staff with Brian
Schottneim are also the likes of George Piggins. We're in
(01:25):
that number three after the big off season trade from
the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Dak Pretzcott he's back.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
From the hamstring injury that ended his twenty twenty four campaign.
He's with Brian Schottneimer now as the head coach. So far,
sounds like Dak likes what he sees.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
I'm super excited. I know we've made some changes I said,
or as you said, personnel and then the scheme that'll
just come with it. I think Shot he's done a
good job of this mini camp of putting guys in
the right places, putting guys in space, and seeing lound
guys to see how he's going to use them. It's
been a great off season, is going to continue to
be a great off season until we get into camp.
So honestly, just the momentum, just staying healthy in the
(02:01):
momentum of this many count these OTAs and making sure
that that I'm not the only one who keeps that momentum,
but the rest of the guys and make sure some
of these young guys are doing the things necessary and
take care of their bodies to hit the ground running
when we get together in July.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
This is a unique situation. Is welcome in Steve Whitch
to the Conversation Ian. Because Brian Schottenheimer has been there
as the offensive coordinator over the past couple of years,
he and Mike McCarthy had a big influence in terms
of how they ran the offense. It was obviously Mike
calling the plays. Now it's Shoddy, it's not totally a
new offense, but certainly you would anticipate there's going to
be some new twists. What do we expect here from
(02:34):
dak in this offense? Yeah, I do expect a lot
of familiarity. And you know, when Brian Schottenheimer was hired
by the Dallas Cowboys, a really surprising hiar mey. Now
we've heard about it for you know, several weeks, several months,
and it seems surprising anymore. But at the time this
was somewhat shocking. But inside the Cowboys building.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
According to Cowboys players, this was something they were extremely
happy with and it wasn't just a familiarity. They've always
believed in Shoddy on their office. They've always believed that
if given the opportunity, he could really take the offense
and run let alone some of the leadership things that
a head.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Coach needs to do.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
But if you're Dak Prescott, if you're the Dallas Cowboys,
and you know there's a couple of new pieces obviously
George Pickens, we know about Mile Sanders, Javonte Williams, plenty
of new pieces to sprinkle in there. But there is
a good reason why they wanted Shottenheimer back, why they
wanted him to be the head coach, while they wanted
his offense sort of a version of Mike McCarthy's offense,
because they know it and they believe they can make
(03:29):
it better. Last year was not a good year for
the Dallas Cowboys. Obviously, Dak was injured, never ended up
playing at the end of the season that with a
significant hamstring injury. Even before that, it just never really
felt right. This seems like a get right year for
the Dallas Cowboys, and being able to hit the ground
running with an offense they know like the back of
their hand is a very very good thing for the
(03:51):
Dallas Cowboys.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
And we've seen this before.
Speaker 6 (03:53):
Is that a lot of times when a coordinator gets promoted,
that familiarity really helps, because a lot of times we'd
like our position coaches, we like our coordinators because that's
who we have the most direct contact with. But you know,
you talk to people who coach with Brian Schottenheimer and
to people within that building, and.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
They'll tell you he knows what he's doing. He's got a.
Speaker 6 (04:11):
Very good grip on the personnel and the personalities in
that building, not just what the players. And I think
that's why things have gone rather seamless. Other than the
Micah Parsons contract issue. It seems like everybody is kind
of on the same page. And Tom and Ian, both
of us know this. They lost a lot of gravitas
in the coaching rooms when Dan Quinn left that building
(04:33):
last year to go coach Washington.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
He really had the player's ears.
Speaker 6 (04:37):
They had a lot of strong feelings towards him, and
I think it left that building a little vacant. I
think Shody steps into that void a little bit. He's younger,
he's got some swag and the relatability that I think
a lot of these players are looking for.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
See thank you more from you, Ian, just a little bit.
I like how you just sort of passed over. Other
than the Michah Parsons situation, there's not a lot coming
on right now in Dallas, well, other than the TJ.
Watt contact situation. Everything it's very calm right now in Pitchburg.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
TJ.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Watt not attending the mandatory mini camp after also skipping
the voluntary portions of the off season program. The sides
have been in contract talks. Mike Tomlin was asked if
he believes what will be there come training.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Camp next month.
Speaker 7 (05:18):
I'm not going to get into speculation there. You guys
know what negotiations is about. I'm optimistic we're gonna get
things done because we got two sides that want to
get things done. When that's going to occur, I do
not know. There's certainly has been communication with him and
communication between he and I, but I have no intentions
of sharing any component.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Of it with you guys.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
I like how Mike Tomlin can tell everybody to go
to hell like that in the nicest possible way.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
We all just gotta go, Hey, that's Mike right there.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Ian With TJ. Watt, He's been obviously a really really
good player for a long time. He's also thirty one
years old. He didn't play his best football down the
stretch last season. This is an interesting case where the
Steelers clearly want to pay him, but the different between
where the market has gone and where the value might
be seems to be the question at stake here.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Yeah, and we've obviously seen plenty of edge deals this offseason,
you know, including Max Crosby obviously that was a huge one.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
Would you know, would think would be.
Speaker 8 (06:15):
Comparable to TJ.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Watt of course Miles Garrett getting the forty million dollars
per year, But this market has really not been filled
out like you sort of would like.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Like you mentioned.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
Micah Parsons deal certainly not done. Doesn't seem like that
one is going to be done anytime soon. Then the
Trey Hendrickson deal, another big time edge deal player who
is at a similar place, similar productivity, somewhat similar age
that is not that deal has not.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Been done either.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
If those were done, then you could sort of say,
are well, obviously TJ. Watt slots in here because we
are still waiting on some of those massive deals. It's
a little bit tricky to see where TJ.
Speaker 9 (06:52):
Watt belongs.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
He has been one of the best players in the NFL,
regardless of position. His age is what it is. His
value to the organization.
Speaker 8 (06:59):
Is obviously really strong.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
You know, if they possibly can, they're going to try
to not make him the highest paid edge rusher in
the NFL, but they do want to commentate him properly
because these are the guys you end up putting in
your team's ring of honor, or whoever teams honor their
great players.
Speaker 8 (07:16):
I believe Mike Tomlin.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
I believe it will get done, but I definitely understand
why getting it done in the middle of June probably
is a little far.
Speaker 8 (07:25):
Fetched in this situation. So he's staying away. The team
seems to be handling it fine.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
You can say the same for the Bengals right now
in their situation with Trey Hendrickson. But they have a
second issue on their hands, which is at their first
round draft pick, Shamar Stewart does not participated, has not
practiced at all since they drafted him in late April.
There's a dispute right now over new contract language that
the Bengals want to insert into the deal.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
SamArt.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Stewart shared some thoughts with the media about that situation
earlier this week, and Zach Taylor shared his thoughts on
those thoughts.
Speaker 10 (08:00):
Number One, we want to protect our team in our
locker room, and so there's some things I understand when
there's frustration there, but that's how he chose to do it,
and that's his prerogative. And we look ford to getting
him back in the fold.
Speaker 11 (08:11):
He told us that he won't practice unless he signs
his contract.
Speaker 12 (08:15):
So at this point, are you confident that he'll have
his contracts signed by started training camp.
Speaker 10 (08:19):
I'm not going to make any predictions.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Did you talk to him following those comments he made.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
The other day, We've had good communication, Hich, welcome in
our Mark Ross to the conversation. Now, once you get
the training camp, you can't sign a participation agreement.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Let's be clear on that.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
So either he signs the contract or he is not
going to be on the field.
Speaker 13 (08:35):
Ian.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
As much as people may look at this and say,
what are you having to dispute over language here, there
are two sides of this, particularly when it's new language
that the Bengals are trying to put into the contract.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
What do you make of the situation right now in Cincinnati?
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Yeah, Well, first of all, I really can't imagine a
head coach. There's a couple, but not that many head
coaches having as many different weird crisises or whatever the
word is to.
Speaker 8 (08:57):
Talk about, like Zach Taylor's.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
I mean, he's had so many things, and now his
first round draft pick, wrookie who they really really like.
Inside the organization decides to stage a dramatic walkout or
a costanza, s like it's over goodbye, see in the summer,
Schamar Stewart. Let me try to explain what's going on
in these Shamar Stewart situation. The Cincinnati Bengals are updating
(09:18):
their contract language. Not talking about the participation agreement that's
over a different language issue, but they are updating their
language contractually. It's the same one that a Marius Mims
signed last year, same one that several of their draft
picks signed last year, and according to sources, several of
the teams around them used the same language. But it's
different from what the Bengals have used in the past.
(09:40):
Shamar Stewart and his agent, Zach Killer have opted not
to negotiate on that, not to accept that language. The Bengals,
to my understanding, have made several different offers and severed
offen options about how to update it. Make it clear
those have not taken either. So where we are, Mark
is the Bengals first round draft pick being dramatic and
walk you got a minikit? Now will it matter come
(10:02):
training hip? I don't know, but I imagine the teammates
in the front office are at the very least taking
note of this situation.
Speaker 5 (10:10):
Yeah, as at a.
Speaker 14 (10:10):
Front office, a front office perspective, you never want this
to get public like this. This is almost unprecedented that
a rookies has jumped out here in minicamp and causes
stings like bashing the front office right from the jump.
So of course you don't want that. And from the
Bengals perspective, you know if they're dug in if this
was new language and NOE and you talked about it
was the players last year, the first round picks last year,
(10:33):
But I guess you know from Stuart's side, it was
not in there.
Speaker 5 (10:36):
So that really has to be figured out and dugging about.
Speaker 14 (10:39):
Who was actually telling the truth here, what is it
the actual language and who is correct in that situation.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
But for Stewart, I mean you got to.
Speaker 14 (10:47):
Say, like the big question, Mark Obviously they invested a
lot in the first round pick, but you need to
have him on the field as a team perspective to say, hey,
look guy that you didn't have the production in college.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
We need you to do here.
Speaker 14 (10:59):
Do this the right way right from the start, and
not cause this stir so Really, I think it will
get done. I think they should just really iron out
to say, akay, let's get in front of each other.
This is a specific language. This is what's happened. This
is the precedent. Other teams do do this, and it's
not shamar, we are singling you out. I don't think
(11:19):
that's really what's happening, but I think he feels that way.
So they got to really get in front of each
other and iron this out before training camp.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
The other piece of this issue, too, is the NFL
Players Association.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
This is not the first time that they've seen a
team trying to insert new language and basically told agents
don't allow this to be agreed to, because then that
sets precedent for everybody else. Or as shmar Stewart himself
might say, y'all just want to win arguments more than
winning more games. Mark more from you in just a
little bit Salas Cargner showed up to the Jets mini
camp despite the fact that he too is looking for
(11:51):
a new contract. He talked today about y he decided
to be in the building even without that big check
hit in the bank.
Speaker 15 (12:02):
Man, I just wanted to show my teammates, show the
coaches how much I'm brought into this now. I want
to win. I want to change the organization. I want
to be a part of changing the organization. You know,
we got a new regime. You know, Ag his whole
coaching staff that he brought in, Mogie, you know, just
great guys. And I feel like mister Johnson did a
(12:22):
great job of getting those type of guys to be here.
And I feel like they're doing a great job and
changing the culture for sure. Oh yeah, I'm letting my
team handle that. You know. My main focus is being
the best football player I could be, you know, but
my team and the Jets I've been talking and you know,
I feel pretty good about how to talks have been going.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Always wives move when you're in the midst of the negotiation,
shout out the owner when talking about all the great
things that are happening within the organization.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
We've seen it this offseason.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Ian JC Horn Derek Stingley that top of the corner
market has been reset multiple times. Are we headed towards
Sauce being the latest before this thing kicks off in September?
Speaker 4 (13:03):
Yeah, it certainly appears that when Sauce Gardner signs his
new deal, and I really do expect the Jets to
get this done at some point before the season. Wouldn't
be surprised if he's the highest paid corner or at
least right there with Derek Stingley, and this deal really
shouldn't be that that difficult to do. He is a
great player, one of the facers of their franchise. Derek
Stingley signed a three year, ninety million dollar deal this offseason.
(13:24):
If it gets there, I would imagine it gets done,
maybe a little above that, just because he's the last
And I would also say this because the Jets have
several good young players Garrett Wilson also in line for
an extension. Wouldn't actually be surprised if the Jets do
them similar timing. They are both faces of this organization,
they came in the same draft class, they are friends like.
Speaker 8 (13:46):
It makes sense to do them the.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
Same time, So certainly something to look forward to for
the Jets and Jets fans.
Speaker 8 (13:51):
Before the season.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
It was one year ago tomorrow the Trevor Lawrence got
his big deal from the Jacksonville Jake wears these things
tend to happen this time. He is first season to
that new contract did not go exactly the way that
he wanted to in Jacksonville, of course, the firing of
Doug Peterson, a very disappointing season for a variety of
different reasons, and also a injury to Lawrence's non throwing
shoulder that ended up requiring surgery in December. You can
(14:16):
see here though, Trevor back on the field throwing and
sounds like, so far, so good.
Speaker 12 (14:22):
I hadn't thrown since before Ota, since December, so or
really yeah, December, So it was about four months of
not throwing. And that's like I've never I don't know
the last time. I couldn't tell you last time I
didn't throw up for four months. I guess four years
ago when I got surgery. So I think just going
from that through, I started throwing a couple of weeks
before we started the off season program, but then we
(14:45):
jumped into practice in heavy volume and I think just
over time. You know, obviously you got adjustin, got to
get in shape for that. So just a little bit
of soreness. The compression helps just relieve some of that.
But that's all it is, So nothing I'm concerned about.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
The Dolphins.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Also wrapped up there Mini camp today. Some new and
old faces on the field, A familiar face on the
sideline or got camera wolf he was at mini camp
and he'll be here next to breakdown what's happening in Miami.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
That's next on the Insiders.
Speaker 16 (15:15):
Shut you up, we're.
Speaker 6 (15:26):
On the screen.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
That's some things.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
I'm a weirdough.
Speaker 17 (15:30):
Did you just look me off playing catch block clock
clock clock clock clock clock clock clock clock clock clock
clock clock.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Clock clock clock clock clock clock nice.
Speaker 18 (15:40):
Uh oh, dude, you know how non offensive I find
girdo a YouTube view and I heard.
Speaker 19 (15:47):
That saw this Trent Wilfer thing showing all this high
school from you and bro.
Speaker 17 (15:53):
Your your technique was trash.
Speaker 19 (15:56):
It was cool though, because you can see little elements
of like a swag girt them.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
You heard them, you heard them, guys. I got swagged.
He just told me you heard guys.
Speaker 19 (16:04):
You heard those guys They think have swag that.
Speaker 5 (16:13):
You were like a young ni.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Don't be born.
Speaker 11 (16:19):
You're in Miami.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Let's go. Who is anyone not watching the McDaniel cast.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
If you're just given the alternate broadcast of just Mike,
Mike up every single game, I'd be there. Help's be
there for this look at the blue skies behind the Dolphins.
There out on the practice field, one of twenty five
teams wrapping up mandatory mini camps this week. Welcome back
to the Insiders, Tom Peliicero, joined again by Steve Whites
along with Cameron Wolf. Cam, you spend more time around
(16:53):
the Dolphins than anybody we've got on this show. We
talked so much about Tua and obviously his injury issues
have been a huge, huge part of their success or
lack thereof at various points over the past three years.
But they've also been missing some really important pieces on
their defense for the better part of a couple of years.
What's the latest one of the expectations there for Bradley
Chubb and Jalen Phillips.
Speaker 11 (17:14):
Yeah, Tom, the two most essential players for the Dolphins
on defensive side for twenty twenty five success.
Speaker 9 (17:20):
Bradley Chubb and Jalen Phillips.
Speaker 11 (17:22):
They look excellent so far in OTAs and mini camp
coming back from those injuries. And look, it's just May
in June, but I'll tell you this, they're banking on it.
Miami is banking on those two guys being the forefront
of their defense. We've talked a lot this offseason about
Jalen Ramsey and the fact that he's going to be
traded soon.
Speaker 9 (17:41):
They need their pass rush to be elite.
Speaker 11 (17:42):
And two years ago, when Bradley Chubb was healthy, he
had eleven sacks, he was their lead pass rusher.
Speaker 9 (17:48):
He got the orange jersey one day in practice.
Speaker 11 (17:50):
He's been a powerful specimen and he's talked to me
about being ninety nine percent ready to go and the
only one percent.
Speaker 9 (17:57):
Left is going to happen in game action.
Speaker 11 (17:59):
And then you got Jalen Phillips, who's going from back
to back achilles and knee injuries.
Speaker 9 (18:03):
He's also working out really well.
Speaker 11 (18:05):
He had the orange jersey, which is given to the
practice player of the day this week as well. And
so you add those two guys with Chop Robinson, their
first round pick, who has been one of the breakout
players so far in camp. They believe their pass rush
is going to hide some of the youth in an
experience they have in the secondary, and that's really their hope.
That Anthony Weavers defense is going to be built by
(18:26):
pass rush and Cam.
Speaker 5 (18:27):
Those guys aren't just pass rushers.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
They're very good against the run, but on the other
side of the ball, running the football is some of
the Dolphins.
Speaker 5 (18:34):
Have got to do a lot better than what they
did last season.
Speaker 6 (18:36):
We saw them fall off significantly rushing for about five
hundred fewer yards and did the previous season when Raheem
Moster went absolutely nuts.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
But Raheem motion was banged up.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Last year.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
They didn't get a ton of production from their running
backs other than Devon a Chan.
Speaker 6 (18:51):
The offensive line was banged up, you know, Toront Armstead
was an issue. He recently retired, and this is what
some things that they've got to do. They've juiced up
the interior of their offensive line and that was a must.
They had to be able to get tougher on the
inside from guard to guard, so they added right there.
They've got Jalen Wright, the second year running back where
they're expecting the big things out of to complement a Chan.
(19:12):
We know overall this offense flows a lot better when
this running game is going with explosive runs like that.
That is something that they've got to be able to
get back to again. Last year it was a significant
amount of issues again, offensive line injuries, this lack of
overall execution. If they can get that going this year,
the run game and adding those two edge rushers who
(19:34):
are also good against the run, that's something they get
Miami back above five hundred and competing for that division title.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Fellas, stick around.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
A lot more to come around the AFC as this
show rolls on, I'll tell you this.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Get more of the NFL with NFL Plus.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Stay connected throughout the off season with twenty four to
seven football news and coverage on an NFL network, and
with NFL Plus Premium, relive your favorite moments from the
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I mention a lot of storylines around the AFC. After this,
(20:11):
We're going to break down all the photos from Josh
Allen's wedding. Not really, but we will talk about James Cook.
The contract situation and what it's going to take for
the Bills to finally get over that hup. That's next
on the Insiders.
Speaker 16 (20:26):
The Day.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Twenty five NFL teams wrapping up their mandatory mini camps
this week. Next time we'll see JJ McCarthy on the field,
we'll be in training camp. But he's already gotten a
lot of work in ahead of his first season as
a starter with that man number eighteen. He had some
thoughts today on his favorite weapon.
Speaker 18 (20:51):
Extremely fortunate to just have him in the locker room
and be on our team because he really is a
true team player. You know, he sacrifices every single day
to be out here with us. Work is but off
every single practice, and you know that just rubs off
on everyone, especially when your best players, you know, giving
it his own so nobody has any excuse to do
anything less. And you know he's just authentically him every
(21:12):
single day and it's it's a really special human being
and even you know, pretty special.
Speaker 20 (21:18):
Athlete as well.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
The number one pick cam Ward wrapping up his first
mandatory mini camp, Titans fans open.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
To see a lot of shots like this down the
field from their new quarterback camp Ward already looking and
talking like a venter.
Speaker 13 (21:34):
I'm always locked in trash talk will never mean nothing
to me. It won't get to me in some type
where I'm just somebody who likes doing it. And so
what's what's the point of playing something that you love
You can't have fun with it, So you know, that's
where it comes from. But I mean, I love the game,
and so any chance I get, you know, to let
somebody know that they can't fool me, it really doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
New QB in Las Vegas as well.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Gino Smith acquired for Seattle in one of the big
trades of the offseason. They've also got a new man
calling the shots, and Pete Carroll had a message for
his team headed into that break before training camp.
Speaker 21 (22:11):
These next six weeks are huge. You know, these guys
have to come back in great shape. I challenged every
one of them to be in the best shape of
their life. If they want to make the most of
this opportunity, they need to go about it and net
with that thought. And so they've all got plans and
how they're going to get that done. We'll see what
happens when we return.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
Turning our attention to the Buffalo Bills, there is the
man of the week, the month, the year. Josh Allen
made a little bit of news, got a little married,
doing a little bit of handshakes with all of his friends.
Can flash the wedding ring while doing those handshakes, and
I don't think he wears it during football practice anyway.
One thing he is doing is targeting Keon Coleman, who
(22:50):
no doubt is expected to have a huge, huge role
in this Bills offense come twenty twenty five.
Speaker 22 (22:57):
You want to know exactly what I see trash. You
gotta be better, simple as that, Like, you gotta be
more efficient here. You gotta get out of there, break,
you gotta stack your dB. You gotta give Josh move
room and throw the ball. You gotta catch that. You
gotta make that block. You gotta get an extra effort
on the touchdown block so if Jim will break it,
he up the sideline. Just different things like that. Call
(23:19):
not everything that you're doing wrong to make it right.
Speaker 4 (23:24):
That is some transparency right there from player the Bills
think is going to have a big time jump in
year two. This Bill's offense desboute everyone freaking out because
they didn't have any receivers and traders to Von Diggs
for this last season. You know what turns out there
pretty good. Turns out that Josh Allen also is pretty good.
But let's put the spotlight just a little bit closer
(23:45):
on the Buffalo Bills as we welcome in our good
friends Cam Wolf, Mark Ross and Steve whis So.
Speaker 9 (23:51):
Cam, let me start with you.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
You heard Kean Coleman talk.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
About his flaws, what he's doing to get better, really
everything on his place. What do you make of the
prospects for Keon Coleman this season?
Speaker 11 (24:04):
Yeah, Ian, I think Keon Coleman should be a top
a lot of year two breakout candidates. And you heard
him disdiscuss his rookie season as trash. I was told
that he sent Josh Allen a text message shortly after
the year and essentially said, I let you down. I
will be better last year, taking that accountability earlier. He
felt like his rookie year was not up to expectations.
(24:24):
He started off hot and then he got injured and
he never was the same player coming back.
Speaker 9 (24:29):
And so he told people around them and they made
the Super Bowl.
Speaker 11 (24:31):
It felt like he got an a on the group
project without contributing. He said that will not happen again.
He's been working on his explosiveness throughout camp is flashed.
A lot of people have seen a different version of Kean,
a stronger, a faster version, and he wants to be
the number one receiver that people talk about the Bills
not having another player to.
Speaker 9 (24:50):
Watch Dalton kin kid.
Speaker 11 (24:52):
He dealt with a lot of injuries last year with
the knee, with the collar bone. He has had an
excellent camp, including today where I'm told he had three
touchdown catches, had a big day, and he expected to
be that big target for Josh Allen in the back
of the end zone. Look, both Keon and Dalphson have
been around throughout OTAs and the Bills thought is that
the chemistry with Josh Allen, the work they've done here
(25:14):
on the field, that'll make them better internal development. Rather
than everyone asking who are the Bills going to bring
in as the wide receiver ste.
Speaker 5 (25:22):
Well, well, they're still going to kind of ask that.
Speaker 6 (25:24):
I mean, look, Khalil Shakira was the one reliable receiver
that they had last year. You talked about Keon Coleman,
and you know he's still got a lot to prove.
Then they add guys like Josh Palmer. This year they
brought in Leviscushanal and Elijah Moore from.
Speaker 5 (25:39):
The Cleveland Browns.
Speaker 6 (25:40):
These are guys who sto have to find ways to
fit into this scheme. The one reason why they may
not necessarily need that number one is Joe Brady. Joe
Brady the offensive coordinator, such creative play caller. You saw
how they spread the ball around. Yeah, Dalton k and
Kaid was the big red zone target, the chain mover.
But how they can spread the ball around, So they
don't necessarily need that high V volume receiver, but they
(26:01):
need a high production out of that group. And Mark, again,
they still have a lot to prove in that regard.
But we saw last year the same thing we're saying
about this wide receiver corps was the same thing we
were saying at this point last offseason.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
That's exactly right, Steven, Mark, you're here too. We have
not forgotten about you. Someone to pick your brain a
little bit on the Bills defensive rookies. Which of the
young players do we need to keep our eyes on
before hard Knocks kind of features all of them and
ruins the surprise for us.
Speaker 9 (26:31):
Anyway, Yeah, before I get to the DAL.
Speaker 14 (26:33):
The four of us could line up with Josh Allen,
he'd score twenty seven twenty six.
Speaker 5 (26:37):
So I'm not worried about whoever lines up.
Speaker 14 (26:39):
What's it's been the defense that has really let the
Bills down. They've been good during the regular season, not great,
and then in the playoffs in big moments, they haven't
been able to get stopped. So is this rookie class
finally that class that will provide an impact player that
can get those stops. So that's starting with the corner
of Maxwell Harriston, who I thought was the most dynamic
(27:00):
athlete of the cornerback position, and then really land and
Jackson down there that they got in the fourth round
out of Arkansas.
Speaker 5 (27:07):
If you watch him against Will Campbell.
Speaker 14 (27:09):
When he was in college, if you want to see
what land and Jackson can do.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
That goes with t J.
Speaker 5 (27:13):
Sanders and Kelen Walker who they also took.
Speaker 14 (27:16):
So among all of those rookies, they're really hoping they
provide an impact because despite the Bills failures, they've invested
a lot of capital with the Ed Olivers and Greg
Russo's and aj Epanesza's boogie. Basham's not on the team
anymore high draft picks in the last three or four
or five drafts that just really haven't provided that impact.
So I'm really looking for Maxwell Harrison and that guy
(27:38):
Landon Jackson right there to say we're going to make
that play to beat the Chiefs to get us.
Speaker 5 (27:42):
To the super Bowl.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
You know, there's a ton of coaches who Harriston was
their favorite player in the draft that was really surprised
he fell to the Bills. I'm sure they were surprised too,
but I don't think they're mad about it at all.
One of the players to watch, no doubt this season. Guys,
thank you very much, really appreciating great, great info for
the Bills.
Speaker 8 (28:00):
Didn't even mention Josh Allen marriage once. Meanwhile, the wait
is over and the countdown and the kickoff has begun.
Speaker 4 (28:06):
Single gating tickets for the twenty twenty five season are
on sale literally now. Visit NFL dot com slash tickets
to purchase tickets today. Tickets are available through the NFL
ticket network, including Ticketmaster, Seek and Sports Illustrated Tickets soon
who you probably should get a ticket to go see
Jalen Johnson our guests next.
Speaker 8 (28:29):
You guys know, I love to weigh golf.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
This time of year, it's all I want to talk
about except for football.
Speaker 8 (28:34):
So let's talk about football, and let's talk about golf
and a lot of other things.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
Bears with their star cornerback coming on next on the inside.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Let me check you in, Hey, I boss check. I
want to tell checking with us man. Yeah, yeah, that's
all I'm saying today.
Speaker 5 (28:59):
That's a denial.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
I thought I gonna see.
Speaker 16 (29:06):
The hell.
Speaker 4 (29:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (29:08):
Appreciate you geting.
Speaker 17 (29:12):
Strits back to throw, sets his feet, lunch is right
and going down the field for Brindley breaking it up
to Jaylan Johnson almost head a pick at the two
yard line.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
You're a great position to make that fun. You gotta
bring it, Hey, you're gonna make the.
Speaker 19 (29:25):
Next one arm Hey, turnover, turnover, love us swallow it up,
gets rid of it.
Speaker 17 (29:30):
At the last second, d is intercepting down the sideline.
So the twenty eighth to the table to the five
to the endsode Oh my.
Speaker 5 (29:38):
Gosh, Oh my gosh, I don't give me another.
Speaker 17 (29:42):
Hey, fourth down conversion in a minute sixteen to playing
the game, throwing now the field, intercept the Jaylon Johnson
inside the thirty five Taylon Johnson with a pick the
third Bears take away and they are shot ready to
get your cago.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
We got mate. Oh yeah, Jalen Johnson. One of the
best miked up segments you will see and also know
he's miked up with us.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Oh you're on the insiders, Tom Pilicero and Ian ravinport Man.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Thanks a lot for being here.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
You guys were the only team in the NFL that
already did your mini camp last week.
Speaker 5 (30:20):
So how are you living right now?
Speaker 2 (30:21):
You got a little extended vacation.
Speaker 20 (30:24):
Yeah, I'm living good and then this out in Vegas.
Gotten right back to work. Just trying to train and
keep pushing my body and getting right.
Speaker 4 (30:30):
So you guys, Jalen have been through an off season.
Now you got a new coaching staff. Obviously last year
did not go up. How anyone in Chicago wanted? Been
through it all thus far? What have you felt about
this new coaching staff as it pertains to just turning
you guys around and getting things in the right direction.
Speaker 19 (30:51):
I think really just setting a new tone. And I thought,
for me it is even hard to say that. I
thought every staff has come in and try to set
a new tone and establish a new way of doing things.
But I think the biggest thing that I've been able
to see, feel and take away even just talking to
the guys is really just the details, the little things,
kind of just pushing the pushing the new standard, and
I think they're not coming off of it, and that's good.
Speaker 20 (31:12):
I feel like for us too, we need.
Speaker 19 (31:13):
That as a young team, getting gaining certain vests. I mean,
of course we've got some vest up front on the
old line, but really everywhere.
Speaker 20 (31:21):
Else we're a pretty young team.
Speaker 19 (31:22):
So I think just having that accountability, having that staff
that's going to come in and really show us the
way and almost pull us along and not just okay, guys,
let's go at your own page, but not like grabbing
our hand. It's like, no, let's go. This is the
way that you want to go about playing football. I
mean Dennis Allen, al Harris, I mean Ben Johnson, they coordinated,
played down all of it really at the highest level.
(31:43):
So I think for us, it's one of those things
that we can trust them and we really just got
to be culchable and then go out there and execute.
Speaker 20 (31:49):
I don't think anything that they'll do or not do
is going to hurt us.
Speaker 19 (31:54):
I think for us is really just going out there
and execute, trusting them, trusting what they say, and going
out there and playing our basketball.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
So for the past few years you were going against
Ben Johnson's offenses in Detroit. He's a guy who will
literally run anything. He'll throw the ball to an offensive lineman,
he'll fake a stumble.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
You've seen it all with him. Now that he's in the.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
Building with you every day, are there things? Is there
a little bit of byplay between you guys. Are you
trying to either give him ideas or pick up on
some of the things he's been doing against you guys
for years.
Speaker 20 (32:23):
Nah, Honestly, hasn't been too much of that.
Speaker 19 (32:25):
I think two for him, he's just trying to establish
a new way of doing things on the offensive side
of the ball. Of course, with the elephant in the
room being I feel like starting with Kayleb and I
think too, one thing that I really seen that was
different from him is the first day he really came in,
it was like, you win based on your quarterback play.
So I think just establishing that, I mean, that's something
that we know as fans and being in the locker
(32:47):
room and things like that. But I feel like as
far as the coach coming out in saying that's the
first time I've heard that, So I think him really
just trying to keep his head low, establish the culture,
establish the standard of doing things, and really just trying
to take care of the like in Spearhead the Caleb development.
But for the most part, I think every time I've
seen we kind of just give that look like it's
kind of weird being.
Speaker 20 (33:07):
On the same team because we've been going at it
for a long time. But I think really in practice
and camp it'll be really fun. Then we'll be able
to really compete against each other.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
So, Jayal, when you mentioned Caleb, and obviously so much
of what happens to the Bears this year is going
to be centered around the quarterbacks. As Ben Johnson tells
you guys early and often, so tell us about it.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
What has Caleb been like?
Speaker 4 (33:30):
How has he grown a little bit from what was
a you know, trying at times but also impressive at
times rookie season last year.
Speaker 19 (33:39):
Honestly, I feel like it's funny because I wasted to
talk like my friends and family and things like that
about it. But it's hard to go from being a
Heisman Trophy winner and being able to play a certain
style of ball.
Speaker 20 (33:51):
So now last year, of course not having the structure
that was necessary to get.
Speaker 19 (33:55):
Him excelling in the right direction, and then now coming
in and having a true offensive mastermind.
Speaker 20 (34:01):
It's going to take some time. It's going to be new,
it's going to be different.
Speaker 19 (34:04):
Of course, I'm not in the office of group, so
I can't speak to two too much, but I know
the changing of the stands to change in the more
under center, the different ways of doing things. I know
that we didn't do last year, and that I would
say he hasn't done too much really in his career,
but I would just say it's going to take a.
Speaker 20 (34:21):
Lot of learning, and I think he's willing to learn.
I think he's really cultorable.
Speaker 19 (34:24):
And again it's going to be uncomfortable because it's going
to be different, but I think he's definitely has everything
that he needs to have as far as the physical makeup.
The mental makeup is just going to be building down
that old foundation and the old way of doing things
and then kind of re establishing itself along with who
he already is.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
So you're out there in Vegas, you're still training and
hopefully getting doing wind a little bit too. But you
also did something cool last Friday, your third annual charity
golf tournament.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
Tell me about it.
Speaker 19 (34:50):
Oh yeah, So my nonprofit, or one of my nonprofits,
Kevy's Vision, we had a golf tournament really just a
fundraiser for our initiative. I mean, my best friend was
shot and kills back in twenty twenty one, so everything
that we do is trying to build the community, help
families to just all throughout that Fresnel, California area, and
really just trying to expand.
Speaker 20 (35:09):
But yeah, so their car showed up.
Speaker 9 (35:11):
It was big for him.
Speaker 20 (35:11):
He's from that area and went to President State as.
Speaker 19 (35:13):
Well, so I got him to come out and really
just brought out the city together to be able to
raise funds for the initiative of just really building underprivileged communities.
Speaker 20 (35:22):
So it was a really good turnout.
Speaker 9 (35:25):
Awesome, looks very cool.
Speaker 4 (35:26):
It's that's great that you spend so much time giving
back to your community. And I played golf today. I
always support golf, So your head is in the right direction.
Speaker 5 (35:36):
We appreciate it.
Speaker 8 (35:38):
Yeah, I will, I will, I will happily wear it
and I will make a mess of on my golf course.
Speaker 9 (35:43):
As I usually do.
Speaker 4 (35:43):
Sure what he's wearing now, thanks for sure ver you mean,
but not totally wrong. Jalen, thank you very much for
joining us. Really appreciate your time. Enjoy Vegas and have
a good training camp. I'm sure we will both be
heading out to Chicago to see you sooner than later.
Speaker 20 (36:01):
Oh yeah, I know that I'll see you. Guys.
Speaker 9 (36:02):
Some you know forty nine.
Speaker 4 (36:06):
Ers fans look into the screen and going, how nice
is that to see Christian McCaffrey practicing, healthy, looking like himself.
Speaker 9 (36:17):
I mean, it's good.
Speaker 8 (36:19):
This is what you if you're a forty nine Ers fan,
This is literally all you want.
Speaker 4 (36:23):
To see your best player, healthy, looking like a star,
and listen to McCaffrey telling himself feels pretty good.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
You know, It's funny.
Speaker 23 (36:34):
I've I've had a lot of people telling me that
as you get older you need to do less, and
I've I've I think there's there's just a middle ground
with that statement, and so.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
For me, it's it's it's kind of a constant.
Speaker 23 (36:48):
Evaluation of where your body's at and what you need,
and you put a lot of trust in other people,
in your in your you know, trainer, your treatment people, uh,
the guys at the facility, and so if you follow
their plan and you like where it's going and you
start to feel good, but you're just constantly evaluating where
you're at in trusting the whole offseason process.
Speaker 4 (37:09):
All good for the forty nine ers, who, by the way,
were a top ten offense for yards last year, didn't
quite get in there for top ten points per game.
A couple other teams like that Falcons also in the mix.
Every they're your top ten offenses for last year.
Speaker 9 (37:25):
Who is going to be a.
Speaker 8 (37:26):
Top ten offense this year?
Speaker 4 (37:28):
Let's talk to our good friends Steve Weisch and Mark
Ross once again. Steve, I will start with you, who's
making the jump this year?
Speaker 5 (37:36):
Well, first off, I hate.
Speaker 6 (37:37):
The total yards of the offense because to me, that
doesn't really tell you who's.
Speaker 5 (37:40):
The top ten offense.
Speaker 6 (37:41):
We saw the Falcons were top ten offense and didn't
make the playoffs.
Speaker 5 (37:44):
So I want to also good points in there.
Speaker 6 (37:45):
And this is why I love the Denver Broncos because
you look at their last seven games. Now, granted that
all of them were against great defenses, but they averaged
almost thirty three points a game. Bon Nicks in year
two and Sean Payton's offense, he should be better.
Speaker 5 (38:00):
They add R J. Harvey, the rookie running back, got a.
Speaker 6 (38:03):
Central Florida, an explosive player. He fits kindy Alvin Kamara mode.
You know that Sean Payton had down with New Orleans
and also a JK. Dobb It's a tough runner. But
then you that Evan Ingram, the first well chess piece
at tight end. I think with everything they've got working
on offense, they should be better. But total yards are
not going to be there because their defense is one
of the best in the NFL.
Speaker 5 (38:24):
They're not going to give up long fields.
Speaker 6 (38:26):
So that's why I hate the total yards and I'm
more into a scoring Elevan would have come to top
ten more.
Speaker 5 (38:31):
I feel you, Steve.
Speaker 8 (38:31):
I will adjust the graphic just for you next time.
Speaker 5 (38:34):
Mark, What about you?
Speaker 4 (38:35):
Which team is making the leap in twenty twenty five
for their offense?
Speaker 5 (38:39):
Steve completely agree with you.
Speaker 14 (38:41):
I always look at points per game, never yards per game,
and my team is totally indicative of that, and that's
the Los Angeles Chargers, who were twentieth in yards per
game but eleventh in scoring last season.
Speaker 5 (38:51):
They scored when it mattered most.
Speaker 14 (38:53):
And of course it all starts with Justin Herbert, the
dynamic quarterback there who under Harball in year two should
be a lot better. But also their personnel has gotten
tremendously better. Look, they may have the best tackle duo
in all and Sean Slater. Now you get McKay beck then,
the number one offensive lineman on the free agent market
in there to say, okay, we may have the best offensive.
Speaker 5 (39:14):
Line in football now.
Speaker 14 (39:15):
But also for Marion Hampton, the dynamic running buck out
of North Carolina in the first round, and Trey Harris,
the big body wide receiver out of Mississippi in the
second round, who should be able to get in there.
Herowin Lamb mccauckey, let's stop this Quintin Johnston stuff.
Speaker 15 (39:30):
Here.
Speaker 5 (39:30):
They brought Mike Williams back.
Speaker 14 (39:32):
So I think with the Chargers, with the influx of
young talent and veteran talent in year two, with Herbert
and Harball and Lad, they're gonna definitely be maybe top five.
Speaker 8 (39:42):
That's pretty bold.
Speaker 16 (39:43):
I like that.
Speaker 8 (39:43):
I want to go back to the Niners a little bit.
Speaker 4 (39:45):
I kind of mentioned it off the top though, I mean,
obviously Christian McCaffrey is back. They traded Jordan Mason earlier
in this offseason, which really was to me a little
bit of a surprising trade. He got paid, which is great,
but a surprising trade because you sort of thought, all right,
maybe this is their backup plan for Christian McCaffrey. That
goes to show you how much confidence they have in McCaffrey.
Speaker 8 (40:06):
Being like his old self.
Speaker 4 (40:07):
And they had so many things on their to do
list this year this offseason, they had to pay a
bunch of guys, they let a couple friendly faces go.
Speaker 9 (40:13):
But they did all of it right.
Speaker 4 (40:15):
I mean, Kiddle's gotten paid, Purdy's gotten paid. I mean,
they really have set themselves up, assuming miccaffrey is healthy,
they really have set.
Speaker 8 (40:23):
Themselves up to have a no frills, somewhat boring.
Speaker 4 (40:27):
Very effective, very efficient training him and get right back
to probably where they should be as an offense. That's
why to me, that's the team I'm looking. It's not
like there was a huge, massive, massive addition, but certainly
to me, the team that should.
Speaker 8 (40:41):
Make a leap. And by the way, if you guys
want a little more.
Speaker 4 (40:43):
On this, you can check out Gennaro Felice's article NFL
Dot com slash Felice to get a little more on
this topic.
Speaker 8 (40:51):
I know you guys will actually I'll say goodbye to
you now bye, guys.
Speaker 5 (40:54):
You can look look up the article. There you go.
Speaker 8 (40:59):
I'm honest, Steve. For a next full screen, I got.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
You Happy Birthday to the purveyor of the original Jalen
Hurts fan page Akaa Hurts fan Zone a nice little
V Day package from Jalen himself, including a first pair
of Jordan's.
Speaker 2 (41:19):
Right there, Ian, That's that's the time of thing you
said to your fans, right Uh.
Speaker 4 (41:24):
If I had fans Tom, I would definitely send him
a new pair of Jordan I'm just kidding. I would
wear them myself. Maybe some golden gouses would work too.
I also wear those.
Speaker 1 (41:33):
Here's Patrick Mahomes with a fan. I'm told his name
is Lionel Messi. He plays a different game that's called football.
Two of these guys making an Adidas commercial together. Definitely
jersey swap right there. And speaking of goat to goat, well,
Brian Baldier couldn't be here tonight because he's hanging out
and towering over the great one Wayne gretzky Ian. It
(41:57):
can never just be Baldy, you know, had dinner to
He's swimming with sharks with the greatest hockey player of
all time.
Speaker 4 (42:05):
I mean, I would like to know a little more
about what those two were up to. Is it possible
that there was a beverage involved in that dinner? I mean,
those two look like they are having a lot of fun.
You could do worse than hanging out with Baldy and Gretzky.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
Out of hockey game.
Speaker 8 (42:20):
I can think of a lot of worse things, like.
Speaker 1 (42:22):
A lot just saying, and like ten minutes after that photo,
I was told he actually dit s Gretzky to hang
out with Alex Sevenchkin, which I thought was interesting.
Speaker 2 (42:32):
It's a deep hockey joke right there. That's hit a
long spring.
Speaker 5 (42:35):
I mean, he's scrolling on.
Speaker 1 (42:37):
Next week and guess what, We're still back tomorrow, seven
pm Eastern time.
Speaker 2 (42:42):
I know you'll be here too, see
Dek is back from another season ending injury, and he
hopes to Pro Bowl form under a new head coach.
Here what the Cowboys QB had to say today about
the team's new regime as mini camp wraps up in Dallas.
Who else could be headed for an offensive uptick El,
Steve Woitz, and Mark Ross have some thoughts.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
They'll be here to tell you who they believe.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Has top ten potential in twenty twenty five. You would
think that the Bears might make that list, but the
Chicago defense also will have a new look. Two time
Pro Bowl quarterback Jaylon Johnson joins US tonight to give
his outlook on the NFC North and why it all
starts with Caleb Williams. Welcome inside with the Insiders alongside
(00:54):
Ian Rapaport, I am Tom Pelisero. Eighty four days away
from kickoff in the NFL. You're doing the math on that.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Twelve weeks from tonight, it's Cowboys and Eagles to kick
off the twenty twenty five season. The Cowboys one of
twenty five teams wrapping up mini camp this week, which
means that we are required by law to take you
to Dallas right now. You had some new parts on
the field in Dallas. Certainly the coaching staff with Brian
Schottneim are also the likes of George Piggins. We're in
(01:25):
that number three after the big off season trade from
the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Dak Pretzcott he's back.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
From the hamstring injury that ended his twenty twenty four campaign.
He's with Brian Schottneimer now as the head coach. So far,
sounds like Dak likes what he sees.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
I'm super excited. I know we've made some changes I said,
or as you said, personnel and then the scheme that'll
just come with it. I think Shot he's done a
good job of this mini camp of putting guys in
the right places, putting guys in space, and seeing lound
guys to see how he's going to use them. It's
been a great off season, is going to continue to
be a great off season until we get into camp.
So honestly, just the momentum, just staying healthy in the
(02:01):
momentum of this many count these OTAs and making sure
that that I'm not the only one who keeps that momentum,
but the rest of the guys and make sure some
of these young guys are doing the things necessary and
take care of their bodies to hit the ground running
when we get together in July.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
This is a unique situation. Is welcome in Steve Whitch
to the Conversation Ian. Because Brian Schottenheimer has been there
as the offensive coordinator over the past couple of years,
he and Mike McCarthy had a big influence in terms
of how they ran the offense. It was obviously Mike
calling the plays. Now it's Shoddy, it's not totally a
new offense, but certainly you would anticipate there's going to
be some new twists. What do we expect here from
(02:34):
dak in this offense? Yeah, I do expect a lot
of familiarity. And you know, when Brian Schottenheimer was hired
by the Dallas Cowboys, a really surprising hiar mey. Now
we've heard about it for you know, several weeks, several months,
and it seems surprising anymore. But at the time this
was somewhat shocking. But inside the Cowboys building.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
According to Cowboys players, this was something they were extremely
happy with and it wasn't just a familiarity. They've always
believed in Shoddy on their office. They've always believed that
if given the opportunity, he could really take the offense
and run let alone some of the leadership things that
a head.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Coach needs to do.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
But if you're Dak Prescott, if you're the Dallas Cowboys,
and you know there's a couple of new pieces obviously
George Pickens, we know about Mile Sanders, Javonte Williams, plenty
of new pieces to sprinkle in there. But there is
a good reason why they wanted Shottenheimer back, why they
wanted him to be the head coach, while they wanted
his offense sort of a version of Mike McCarthy's offense,
because they know it and they believe they can make
(03:29):
it better. Last year was not a good year for
the Dallas Cowboys. Obviously, Dak was injured, never ended up
playing at the end of the season that with a
significant hamstring injury. Even before that, it just never really
felt right. This seems like a get right year for
the Dallas Cowboys, and being able to hit the ground
running with an offense they know like the back of
their hand is a very very good thing for the
(03:51):
Dallas Cowboys.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
And we've seen this before.
Speaker 6 (03:53):
Is that a lot of times when a coordinator gets promoted,
that familiarity really helps, because a lot of times we'd
like our position coaches, we like our coordinators because that's
who we have the most direct contact with. But you know,
you talk to people who coach with Brian Schottenheimer and
to people within that building, and.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
They'll tell you he knows what he's doing. He's got a.
Speaker 6 (04:11):
Very good grip on the personnel and the personalities in
that building, not just what the players. And I think
that's why things have gone rather seamless. Other than the
Micah Parsons contract issue. It seems like everybody is kind
of on the same page. And Tom and Ian, both
of us know this. They lost a lot of gravitas
in the coaching rooms when Dan Quinn left that building
(04:33):
last year to go coach Washington.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
He really had the player's ears.
Speaker 6 (04:37):
They had a lot of strong feelings towards him, and
I think it left that building a little vacant. I
think Shody steps into that void a little bit. He's younger,
he's got some swag and the relatability that I think
a lot of these players are looking for.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
See thank you more from you, Ian, just a little bit.
I like how you just sort of passed over. Other
than the Michah Parsons situation, there's not a lot coming
on right now in Dallas, well, other than the TJ.
Watt contact situation. Everything it's very calm right now in Pitchburg.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
TJ.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Watt not attending the mandatory mini camp after also skipping
the voluntary portions of the off season program. The sides
have been in contract talks. Mike Tomlin was asked if
he believes what will be there come training.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Camp next month.
Speaker 7 (05:18):
I'm not going to get into speculation there. You guys
know what negotiations is about. I'm optimistic we're gonna get
things done because we got two sides that want to
get things done. When that's going to occur, I do
not know. There's certainly has been communication with him and
communication between he and I, but I have no intentions
of sharing any component.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Of it with you guys.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
I like how Mike Tomlin can tell everybody to go
to hell like that in the nicest possible way.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
We all just gotta go, Hey, that's Mike right there.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Ian With TJ. Watt, He's been obviously a really really
good player for a long time. He's also thirty one
years old. He didn't play his best football down the
stretch last season. This is an interesting case where the
Steelers clearly want to pay him, but the different between
where the market has gone and where the value might
be seems to be the question at stake here.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Yeah, and we've obviously seen plenty of edge deals this offseason,
you know, including Max Crosby obviously that was a huge one.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
Would you know, would think would be.
Speaker 8 (06:15):
Comparable to TJ.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Watt of course Miles Garrett getting the forty million dollars
per year, But this market has really not been filled
out like you sort of would like.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Like you mentioned.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
Micah Parsons deal certainly not done. Doesn't seem like that
one is going to be done anytime soon. Then the
Trey Hendrickson deal, another big time edge deal player who
is at a similar place, similar productivity, somewhat similar age
that is not that deal has not.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Been done either.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
If those were done, then you could sort of say,
are well, obviously TJ. Watt slots in here because we
are still waiting on some of those massive deals. It's
a little bit tricky to see where TJ.
Speaker 9 (06:52):
Watt belongs.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
He has been one of the best players in the NFL,
regardless of position. His age is what it is. His
value to the organization.
Speaker 8 (06:59):
Is obviously really strong.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
You know, if they possibly can, they're going to try
to not make him the highest paid edge rusher in
the NFL, but they do want to commentate him properly
because these are the guys you end up putting in
your team's ring of honor, or whoever teams honor their
great players.
Speaker 8 (07:16):
I believe Mike Tomlin.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
I believe it will get done, but I definitely understand
why getting it done in the middle of June probably
is a little far.
Speaker 8 (07:25):
Fetched in this situation. So he's staying away. The team
seems to be handling it fine.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
You can say the same for the Bengals right now
in their situation with Trey Hendrickson. But they have a
second issue on their hands, which is at their first
round draft pick, Shamar Stewart does not participated, has not
practiced at all since they drafted him in late April.
There's a dispute right now over new contract language that
the Bengals want to insert into the deal.
Speaker 5 (07:50):
SamArt.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Stewart shared some thoughts with the media about that situation
earlier this week, and Zach Taylor shared his thoughts on
those thoughts.
Speaker 10 (08:00):
Number One, we want to protect our team in our
locker room, and so there's some things I understand when
there's frustration there, but that's how he chose to do it,
and that's his prerogative. And we look ford to getting
him back in the fold.
Speaker 11 (08:11):
He told us that he won't practice unless he signs
his contract.
Speaker 12 (08:15):
So at this point, are you confident that he'll have
his contracts signed by started training camp.
Speaker 10 (08:19):
I'm not going to make any predictions.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Did you talk to him following those comments he made.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
The other day, We've had good communication, Hich, welcome in
our Mark Ross to the conversation. Now, once you get
the training camp, you can't sign a participation agreement.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Let's be clear on that.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
So either he signs the contract or he is not
going to be on the field.
Speaker 13 (08:35):
Ian.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
As much as people may look at this and say,
what are you having to dispute over language here, there
are two sides of this, particularly when it's new language
that the Bengals are trying to put into the contract.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
What do you make of the situation right now in Cincinnati?
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Yeah, Well, first of all, I really can't imagine a
head coach. There's a couple, but not that many head
coaches having as many different weird crisises or whatever the
word is to.
Speaker 8 (08:57):
Talk about, like Zach Taylor's.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
I mean, he's had so many things, and now his
first round draft pick, wrookie who they really really like.
Inside the organization decides to stage a dramatic walkout or
a costanza, s like it's over goodbye, see in the summer,
Schamar Stewart. Let me try to explain what's going on
in these Shamar Stewart situation. The Cincinnati Bengals are updating
(09:18):
their contract language. Not talking about the participation agreement that's
over a different language issue, but they are updating their
language contractually. It's the same one that a Marius Mims
signed last year, same one that several of their draft
picks signed last year, and according to sources, several of
the teams around them used the same language. But it's
different from what the Bengals have used in the past.
(09:40):
Shamar Stewart and his agent, Zach Killer have opted not
to negotiate on that, not to accept that language. The Bengals,
to my understanding, have made several different offers and severed
offen options about how to update it. Make it clear
those have not taken either. So where we are, Mark
is the Bengals first round draft pick being dramatic and
walk you got a minikit? Now will it matter come
(10:02):
training hip? I don't know, but I imagine the teammates
in the front office are at the very least taking
note of this situation.
Speaker 5 (10:10):
Yeah, as at a.
Speaker 14 (10:10):
Front office, a front office perspective, you never want this
to get public like this. This is almost unprecedented that
a rookies has jumped out here in minicamp and causes
stings like bashing the front office right from the jump.
So of course you don't want that. And from the
Bengals perspective, you know if they're dug in if this
was new language and NOE and you talked about it
was the players last year, the first round picks last year,
(10:33):
But I guess you know from Stuart's side, it was
not in there.
Speaker 5 (10:36):
So that really has to be figured out and dugging about.
Speaker 14 (10:39):
Who was actually telling the truth here, what is it
the actual language and who is correct in that situation.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
But for Stewart, I mean you got to.
Speaker 14 (10:47):
Say, like the big question, Mark Obviously they invested a
lot in the first round pick, but you need to
have him on the field as a team perspective to say, hey,
look guy that you didn't have the production in college.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
We need you to do here.
Speaker 14 (10:59):
Do this the right way right from the start, and
not cause this stir so Really, I think it will
get done. I think they should just really iron out
to say, akay, let's get in front of each other.
This is a specific language. This is what's happened. This
is the precedent. Other teams do do this, and it's
not shamar, we are singling you out. I don't think
(11:19):
that's really what's happening, but I think he feels that way.
So they got to really get in front of each
other and iron this out before training camp.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
The other piece of this issue, too, is the NFL
Players Association.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
This is not the first time that they've seen a
team trying to insert new language and basically told agents
don't allow this to be agreed to, because then that
sets precedent for everybody else. Or as shmar Stewart himself
might say, y'all just want to win arguments more than
winning more games. Mark more from you in just a
little bit Salas Cargner showed up to the Jets mini
camp despite the fact that he too is looking for
(11:51):
a new contract. He talked today about y he decided
to be in the building even without that big check
hit in the bank.
Speaker 15 (12:02):
Man, I just wanted to show my teammates, show the
coaches how much I'm brought into this now. I want
to win. I want to change the organization. I want
to be a part of changing the organization. You know,
we got a new regime. You know, Ag his whole
coaching staff that he brought in, Mogie, you know, just
great guys. And I feel like mister Johnson did a
(12:22):
great job of getting those type of guys to be here.
And I feel like they're doing a great job and
changing the culture for sure. Oh yeah, I'm letting my
team handle that. You know. My main focus is being
the best football player I could be, you know, but
my team and the Jets I've been talking and you know,
I feel pretty good about how to talks have been going.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Always wives move when you're in the midst of the negotiation,
shout out the owner when talking about all the great
things that are happening within the organization.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
We've seen it this offseason.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Ian JC Horn Derek Stingley that top of the corner
market has been reset multiple times. Are we headed towards
Sauce being the latest before this thing kicks off in September?
Speaker 4 (13:03):
Yeah, it certainly appears that when Sauce Gardner signs his
new deal, and I really do expect the Jets to
get this done at some point before the season. Wouldn't
be surprised if he's the highest paid corner or at
least right there with Derek Stingley, and this deal really
shouldn't be that that difficult to do. He is a
great player, one of the facers of their franchise. Derek
Stingley signed a three year, ninety million dollar deal this offseason.
(13:24):
If it gets there, I would imagine it gets done,
maybe a little above that, just because he's the last
And I would also say this because the Jets have
several good young players Garrett Wilson also in line for
an extension. Wouldn't actually be surprised if the Jets do
them similar timing. They are both faces of this organization,
they came in the same draft class, they are friends like.
Speaker 8 (13:46):
It makes sense to do them the.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
Same time, So certainly something to look forward to for
the Jets and Jets fans.
Speaker 8 (13:51):
Before the season.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
It was one year ago tomorrow the Trevor Lawrence got
his big deal from the Jacksonville Jake wears these things
tend to happen this time. He is first season to
that new contract did not go exactly the way that
he wanted to in Jacksonville, of course, the firing of
Doug Peterson, a very disappointing season for a variety of
different reasons, and also a injury to Lawrence's non throwing
shoulder that ended up requiring surgery in December. You can
(14:16):
see here though, Trevor back on the field throwing and
sounds like, so far, so good.
Speaker 12 (14:22):
I hadn't thrown since before Ota, since December, so or
really yeah, December, So it was about four months of
not throwing. And that's like I've never I don't know
the last time. I couldn't tell you last time I
didn't throw up for four months. I guess four years
ago when I got surgery. So I think just going
from that through, I started throwing a couple of weeks
before we started the off season program, but then we
(14:45):
jumped into practice in heavy volume and I think just
over time. You know, obviously you got adjustin, got to
get in shape for that. So just a little bit
of soreness. The compression helps just relieve some of that.
But that's all it is, So nothing I'm concerned about.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
The Dolphins.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Also wrapped up there Mini camp today. Some new and
old faces on the field, A familiar face on the
sideline or got camera wolf he was at mini camp
and he'll be here next to breakdown what's happening in Miami.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
That's next on the Insiders.
Speaker 16 (15:15):
Shut you up, we're.
Speaker 6 (15:26):
On the screen.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
That's some things.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
I'm a weirdough.
Speaker 17 (15:30):
Did you just look me off playing catch block clock
clock clock clock clock clock clock clock clock clock clock
clock clock.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
Clock clock clock clock clock clock nice.
Speaker 18 (15:40):
Uh oh, dude, you know how non offensive I find
girdo a YouTube view and I heard.
Speaker 19 (15:47):
That saw this Trent Wilfer thing showing all this high
school from you and bro.
Speaker 17 (15:53):
Your your technique was trash.
Speaker 19 (15:56):
It was cool though, because you can see little elements
of like a swag girt them.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
You heard them, you heard them, guys. I got swagged.
He just told me you heard guys.
Speaker 19 (16:04):
You heard those guys They think have swag that.
Speaker 5 (16:13):
You were like a young ni.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Don't be born.
Speaker 11 (16:19):
You're in Miami.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Let's go. Who is anyone not watching the McDaniel cast.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
If you're just given the alternate broadcast of just Mike,
Mike up every single game, I'd be there. Help's be
there for this look at the blue skies behind the Dolphins.
There out on the practice field, one of twenty five
teams wrapping up mandatory mini camps this week. Welcome back
to the Insiders, Tom Peliicero, joined again by Steve Whites
along with Cameron Wolf. Cam, you spend more time around
(16:53):
the Dolphins than anybody we've got on this show. We
talked so much about Tua and obviously his injury issues
have been a huge, huge part of their success or
lack thereof at various points over the past three years.
But they've also been missing some really important pieces on
their defense for the better part of a couple of years.
What's the latest one of the expectations there for Bradley
Chubb and Jalen Phillips.
Speaker 11 (17:14):
Yeah, Tom, the two most essential players for the Dolphins
on defensive side for twenty twenty five success.
Speaker 9 (17:20):
Bradley Chubb and Jalen Phillips.
Speaker 11 (17:22):
They look excellent so far in OTAs and mini camp
coming back from those injuries. And look, it's just May
in June, but I'll tell you this, they're banking on it.
Miami is banking on those two guys being the forefront
of their defense. We've talked a lot this offseason about
Jalen Ramsey and the fact that he's going to be
traded soon.
Speaker 9 (17:41):
They need their pass rush to be elite.
Speaker 11 (17:42):
And two years ago, when Bradley Chubb was healthy, he
had eleven sacks, he was their lead pass rusher.
Speaker 9 (17:48):
He got the orange jersey one day in practice.
Speaker 11 (17:50):
He's been a powerful specimen and he's talked to me
about being ninety nine percent ready to go and the
only one percent.
Speaker 9 (17:57):
Left is going to happen in game action.
Speaker 11 (17:59):
And then you got Jalen Phillips, who's going from back
to back achilles and knee injuries.
Speaker 9 (18:03):
He's also working out really well.
Speaker 11 (18:05):
He had the orange jersey, which is given to the
practice player of the day this week as well. And
so you add those two guys with Chop Robinson, their
first round pick, who has been one of the breakout
players so far in camp. They believe their pass rush
is going to hide some of the youth in an
experience they have in the secondary, and that's really their hope.
That Anthony Weavers defense is going to be built by
(18:26):
pass rush and Cam.
Speaker 5 (18:27):
Those guys aren't just pass rushers.
Speaker 6 (18:29):
They're very good against the run, but on the other
side of the ball, running the football is some of
the Dolphins.
Speaker 5 (18:34):
Have got to do a lot better than what they
did last season.
Speaker 6 (18:36):
We saw them fall off significantly rushing for about five
hundred fewer yards and did the previous season when Raheem
Moster went absolutely nuts.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
But Raheem motion was banged up.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Last year.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
They didn't get a ton of production from their running
backs other than Devon a Chan.
Speaker 6 (18:51):
The offensive line was banged up, you know, Toront Armstead
was an issue. He recently retired, and this is what
some things that they've got to do. They've juiced up
the interior of their offensive line and that was a must.
They had to be able to get tougher on the
inside from guard to guard, so they added right there.
They've got Jalen Wright, the second year running back where
they're expecting the big things out of to complement a Chan.
(19:12):
We know overall this offense flows a lot better when
this running game is going with explosive runs like that.
That is something that they've got to be able to
get back to again. Last year it was a significant
amount of issues again, offensive line injuries, this lack of
overall execution. If they can get that going this year,
the run game and adding those two edge rushers who
(19:34):
are also good against the run, that's something they get
Miami back above five hundred and competing for that division title.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Fellas, stick around.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
A lot more to come around the AFC as this
show rolls on, I'll tell you this.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Get more of the NFL with NFL Plus.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Stay connected throughout the off season with twenty four to
seven football news and coverage on an NFL network, and
with NFL Plus Premium, relive your favorite moments from the
twenty twenty four season with game replays and access to
NFL player stats with NFL Pro. Subscribe today at plus
dot at fl dot com. Terms and conditions apply. Did
I mention a lot of storylines around the AFC. After this,
(20:11):
We're going to break down all the photos from Josh
Allen's wedding. Not really, but we will talk about James Cook.
The contract situation and what it's going to take for
the Bills to finally get over that hup. That's next
on the Insiders.
Speaker 16 (20:26):
The Day.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Twenty five NFL teams wrapping up their mandatory mini camps
this week. Next time we'll see JJ McCarthy on the field,
we'll be in training camp. But he's already gotten a
lot of work in ahead of his first season as
a starter with that man number eighteen. He had some
thoughts today on his favorite weapon.
Speaker 18 (20:51):
Extremely fortunate to just have him in the locker room
and be on our team because he really is a
true team player. You know, he sacrifices every single day
to be out here with us. Work is but off
every single practice, and you know that just rubs off
on everyone, especially when your best players, you know, giving
it his own so nobody has any excuse to do
anything less. And you know he's just authentically him every
(21:12):
single day and it's it's a really special human being
and even you know, pretty special.
Speaker 20 (21:18):
Athlete as well.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
The number one pick cam Ward wrapping up his first
mandatory mini camp, Titans fans open.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
To see a lot of shots like this down the
field from their new quarterback camp Ward already looking and
talking like a venter.
Speaker 13 (21:34):
I'm always locked in trash talk will never mean nothing
to me. It won't get to me in some type
where I'm just somebody who likes doing it. And so
what's what's the point of playing something that you love
You can't have fun with it, So you know, that's
where it comes from. But I mean, I love the game,
and so any chance I get, you know, to let
somebody know that they can't fool me, it really doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
New QB in Las Vegas as well.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Gino Smith acquired for Seattle in one of the big
trades of the offseason. They've also got a new man
calling the shots, and Pete Carroll had a message for
his team headed into that break before training camp.
Speaker 21 (22:11):
These next six weeks are huge. You know, these guys
have to come back in great shape. I challenged every
one of them to be in the best shape of
their life. If they want to make the most of
this opportunity, they need to go about it and net
with that thought. And so they've all got plans and
how they're going to get that done. We'll see what
happens when we return.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
Turning our attention to the Buffalo Bills, there is the
man of the week, the month, the year. Josh Allen
made a little bit of news, got a little married,
doing a little bit of handshakes with all of his friends.
Can flash the wedding ring while doing those handshakes, and
I don't think he wears it during football practice anyway.
One thing he is doing is targeting Keon Coleman, who
(22:50):
no doubt is expected to have a huge, huge role
in this Bills offense come twenty twenty five.
Speaker 22 (22:57):
You want to know exactly what I see trash. You
gotta be better, simple as that, Like, you gotta be
more efficient here. You gotta get out of there, break,
you gotta stack your dB. You gotta give Josh move
room and throw the ball. You gotta catch that. You
gotta make that block. You gotta get an extra effort
on the touchdown block so if Jim will break it,
he up the sideline. Just different things like that. Call
(23:19):
not everything that you're doing wrong to make it right.
Speaker 4 (23:24):
That is some transparency right there from player the Bills
think is going to have a big time jump in
year two. This Bill's offense desboute everyone freaking out because
they didn't have any receivers and traders to Von Diggs
for this last season. You know what turns out there
pretty good. Turns out that Josh Allen also is pretty good.
But let's put the spotlight just a little bit closer
(23:45):
on the Buffalo Bills as we welcome in our good
friends Cam Wolf, Mark Ross and Steve whis So.
Speaker 9 (23:51):
Cam, let me start with you.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
You heard Kean Coleman talk.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
About his flaws, what he's doing to get better, really
everything on his place. What do you make of the
prospects for Keon Coleman this season?
Speaker 11 (24:04):
Yeah, Ian, I think Keon Coleman should be a top
a lot of year two breakout candidates. And you heard
him disdiscuss his rookie season as trash. I was told
that he sent Josh Allen a text message shortly after
the year and essentially said, I let you down. I
will be better last year, taking that accountability earlier. He
felt like his rookie year was not up to expectations.
(24:24):
He started off hot and then he got injured and
he never was the same player coming back.
Speaker 9 (24:29):
And so he told people around them and they made
the Super Bowl.
Speaker 11 (24:31):
It felt like he got an a on the group
project without contributing. He said that will not happen again.
He's been working on his explosiveness throughout camp is flashed.
A lot of people have seen a different version of Kean,
a stronger, a faster version, and he wants to be
the number one receiver that people talk about the Bills
not having another player to.
Speaker 9 (24:50):
Watch Dalton kin kid.
Speaker 11 (24:52):
He dealt with a lot of injuries last year with
the knee, with the collar bone. He has had an
excellent camp, including today where I'm told he had three
touchdown catches, had a big day, and he expected to
be that big target for Josh Allen in the back
of the end zone. Look, both Keon and Dalphson have
been around throughout OTAs and the Bills thought is that
the chemistry with Josh Allen, the work they've done here
(25:14):
on the field, that'll make them better internal development. Rather
than everyone asking who are the Bills going to bring
in as the wide receiver ste.
Speaker 5 (25:22):
Well, well, they're still going to kind of ask that.
Speaker 6 (25:24):
I mean, look, Khalil Shakira was the one reliable receiver
that they had last year. You talked about Keon Coleman,
and you know he's still got a lot to prove.
Then they add guys like Josh Palmer. This year they
brought in Leviscushanal and Elijah Moore from.
Speaker 5 (25:39):
The Cleveland Browns.
Speaker 6 (25:40):
These are guys who sto have to find ways to
fit into this scheme. The one reason why they may
not necessarily need that number one is Joe Brady. Joe
Brady the offensive coordinator, such creative play caller. You saw
how they spread the ball around. Yeah, Dalton k and
Kaid was the big red zone target, the chain mover.
But how they can spread the ball around, So they
don't necessarily need that high V volume receiver, but they
(26:01):
need a high production out of that group. And Mark, again,
they still have a lot to prove in that regard.
But we saw last year the same thing we're saying
about this wide receiver corps was the same thing we
were saying at this point last offseason.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
That's exactly right, Steven, Mark, you're here too. We have
not forgotten about you. Someone to pick your brain a
little bit on the Bills defensive rookies. Which of the
young players do we need to keep our eyes on
before hard Knocks kind of features all of them and
ruins the surprise for us.
Speaker 9 (26:31):
Anyway, Yeah, before I get to the DAL.
Speaker 14 (26:33):
The four of us could line up with Josh Allen,
he'd score twenty seven twenty six.
Speaker 5 (26:37):
So I'm not worried about whoever lines up.
Speaker 14 (26:39):
What's it's been the defense that has really let the
Bills down. They've been good during the regular season, not great,
and then in the playoffs in big moments, they haven't
been able to get stopped. So is this rookie class
finally that class that will provide an impact player that
can get those stops. So that's starting with the corner
of Maxwell Harriston, who I thought was the most dynamic
(27:00):
athlete of the cornerback position, and then really land and
Jackson down there that they got in the fourth round
out of Arkansas.
Speaker 5 (27:07):
If you watch him against Will Campbell.
Speaker 14 (27:09):
When he was in college, if you want to see
what land and Jackson can do.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
That goes with t J.
Speaker 5 (27:13):
Sanders and Kelen Walker who they also took.
Speaker 14 (27:16):
So among all of those rookies, they're really hoping they
provide an impact because despite the Bills failures, they've invested
a lot of capital with the Ed Olivers and Greg
Russo's and aj Epanesza's boogie. Basham's not on the team
anymore high draft picks in the last three or four
or five drafts that just really haven't provided that impact.
So I'm really looking for Maxwell Harrison and that guy
(27:38):
Landon Jackson right there to say we're going to make
that play to beat the Chiefs to get us.
Speaker 5 (27:42):
To the super Bowl.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
You know, there's a ton of coaches who Harriston was
their favorite player in the draft that was really surprised
he fell to the Bills. I'm sure they were surprised too,
but I don't think they're mad about it at all.
One of the players to watch, no doubt this season. Guys,
thank you very much, really appreciating great, great info for
the Bills.
Speaker 8 (28:00):
Didn't even mention Josh Allen marriage once. Meanwhile, the wait
is over and the countdown and the kickoff has begun.
Speaker 4 (28:06):
Single gating tickets for the twenty twenty five season are
on sale literally now. Visit NFL dot com slash tickets
to purchase tickets today. Tickets are available through the NFL
ticket network, including Ticketmaster, Seek and Sports Illustrated Tickets soon
who you probably should get a ticket to go see
Jalen Johnson our guests next.
Speaker 8 (28:29):
You guys know, I love to weigh golf.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
This time of year, it's all I want to talk
about except for football.
Speaker 8 (28:34):
So let's talk about football, and let's talk about golf
and a lot of other things.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
Bears with their star cornerback coming on next on the inside.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Let me check you in, Hey, I boss check. I
want to tell checking with us man. Yeah, yeah, that's
all I'm saying today.
Speaker 5 (28:59):
That's a denial.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
I thought I gonna see.
Speaker 16 (29:06):
The hell.
Speaker 4 (29:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (29:08):
Appreciate you geting.
Speaker 17 (29:12):
Strits back to throw, sets his feet, lunch is right
and going down the field for Brindley breaking it up
to Jaylan Johnson almost head a pick at the two
yard line.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
You're a great position to make that fun. You gotta
bring it, Hey, you're gonna make the.
Speaker 19 (29:25):
Next one arm Hey, turnover, turnover, love us swallow it up,
gets rid of it.
Speaker 17 (29:30):
At the last second, d is intercepting down the sideline.
So the twenty eighth to the table to the five
to the endsode Oh my.
Speaker 5 (29:38):
Gosh, Oh my gosh, I don't give me another.
Speaker 17 (29:42):
Hey, fourth down conversion in a minute sixteen to playing
the game, throwing now the field, intercept the Jaylon Johnson
inside the thirty five Taylon Johnson with a pick the
third Bears take away and they are shot ready to
get your cago.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
We got mate. Oh yeah, Jalen Johnson. One of the
best miked up segments you will see and also know
he's miked up with us.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Oh you're on the insiders, Tom Pilicero and Ian ravinport Man.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Thanks a lot for being here.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
You guys were the only team in the NFL that
already did your mini camp last week.
Speaker 5 (30:20):
So how are you living right now?
Speaker 2 (30:21):
You got a little extended vacation.
Speaker 20 (30:24):
Yeah, I'm living good and then this out in Vegas.
Gotten right back to work. Just trying to train and
keep pushing my body and getting right.
Speaker 4 (30:30):
So you guys, Jalen have been through an off season.
Now you got a new coaching staff. Obviously last year
did not go up. How anyone in Chicago wanted? Been
through it all thus far? What have you felt about
this new coaching staff as it pertains to just turning
you guys around and getting things in the right direction.
Speaker 19 (30:51):
I think really just setting a new tone. And I thought,
for me it is even hard to say that. I
thought every staff has come in and try to set
a new tone and establish a new way of doing things.
But I think the biggest thing that I've been able
to see, feel and take away even just talking to
the guys is really just the details, the little things,
kind of just pushing the pushing the new standard, and
I think they're not coming off of it, and that's good.
Speaker 20 (31:12):
I feel like for us too, we need.
Speaker 19 (31:13):
That as a young team, getting gaining certain vests. I mean,
of course we've got some vest up front on the
old line, but really everywhere.
Speaker 20 (31:21):
Else we're a pretty young team.
Speaker 19 (31:22):
So I think just having that accountability, having that staff
that's going to come in and really show us the
way and almost pull us along and not just okay, guys,
let's go at your own page, but not like grabbing
our hand. It's like, no, let's go. This is the
way that you want to go about playing football. I
mean Dennis Allen, al Harris, I mean Ben Johnson, they coordinated,
played down all of it really at the highest level.
(31:43):
So I think for us, it's one of those things
that we can trust them and we really just got
to be culchable and then go out there and execute.
Speaker 20 (31:49):
I don't think anything that they'll do or not do
is going to hurt us.
Speaker 19 (31:54):
I think for us is really just going out there
and execute, trusting them, trusting what they say, and going
out there and playing our basketball.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
So for the past few years you were going against
Ben Johnson's offenses in Detroit. He's a guy who will
literally run anything. He'll throw the ball to an offensive lineman,
he'll fake a stumble.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
You've seen it all with him. Now that he's in the.
Speaker 1 (32:13):
Building with you every day, are there things? Is there
a little bit of byplay between you guys. Are you
trying to either give him ideas or pick up on
some of the things he's been doing against you guys
for years.
Speaker 20 (32:23):
Nah, Honestly, hasn't been too much of that.
Speaker 19 (32:25):
I think two for him, he's just trying to establish
a new way of doing things on the offensive side
of the ball. Of course, with the elephant in the
room being I feel like starting with Kayleb and I
think too, one thing that I really seen that was
different from him is the first day he really came in,
it was like, you win based on your quarterback play.
So I think just establishing that, I mean, that's something
that we know as fans and being in the locker
(32:47):
room and things like that. But I feel like as
far as the coach coming out in saying that's the
first time I've heard that, So I think him really
just trying to keep his head low, establish the culture,
establish the standard of doing things, and really just trying
to take care of the like in Spearhead the Caleb development.
But for the most part, I think every time I've
seen we kind of just give that look like it's
kind of weird being.
Speaker 20 (33:07):
On the same team because we've been going at it
for a long time. But I think really in practice
and camp it'll be really fun. Then we'll be able
to really compete against each other.
Speaker 4 (33:18):
So, Jayal, when you mentioned Caleb, and obviously so much
of what happens to the Bears this year is going
to be centered around the quarterbacks. As Ben Johnson tells
you guys early and often, so tell us about it.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
What has Caleb been like?
Speaker 4 (33:30):
How has he grown a little bit from what was
a you know, trying at times but also impressive at
times rookie season last year.
Speaker 19 (33:39):
Honestly, I feel like it's funny because I wasted to
talk like my friends and family and things like that
about it. But it's hard to go from being a
Heisman Trophy winner and being able to play a certain
style of ball.
Speaker 20 (33:51):
So now last year, of course not having the structure
that was necessary to get.
Speaker 19 (33:55):
Him excelling in the right direction, and then now coming
in and having a true offensive mastermind.
Speaker 20 (34:01):
It's going to take some time. It's going to be new,
it's going to be different.
Speaker 19 (34:04):
Of course, I'm not in the office of group, so
I can't speak to two too much, but I know
the changing of the stands to change in the more
under center, the different ways of doing things. I know
that we didn't do last year, and that I would
say he hasn't done too much really in his career,
but I would just say it's going to take a.
Speaker 20 (34:21):
Lot of learning, and I think he's willing to learn.
I think he's really cultorable.
Speaker 19 (34:24):
And again it's going to be uncomfortable because it's going
to be different, but I think he's definitely has everything
that he needs to have as far as the physical makeup.
The mental makeup is just going to be building down
that old foundation and the old way of doing things
and then kind of re establishing itself along with who
he already is.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
So you're out there in Vegas, you're still training and
hopefully getting doing wind a little bit too. But you
also did something cool last Friday, your third annual charity
golf tournament.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
Tell me about it.
Speaker 19 (34:50):
Oh yeah, So my nonprofit, or one of my nonprofits,
Kevy's Vision, we had a golf tournament really just a
fundraiser for our initiative. I mean, my best friend was
shot and kills back in twenty twenty one, so everything
that we do is trying to build the community, help
families to just all throughout that Fresnel, California area, and
really just trying to expand.
Speaker 20 (35:09):
But yeah, so their car showed up.
Speaker 9 (35:11):
It was big for him.
Speaker 20 (35:11):
He's from that area and went to President State as.
Speaker 19 (35:13):
Well, so I got him to come out and really
just brought out the city together to be able to
raise funds for the initiative of just really building underprivileged communities.
Speaker 20 (35:22):
So it was a really good turnout.
Speaker 9 (35:25):
Awesome, looks very cool.
Speaker 4 (35:26):
It's that's great that you spend so much time giving
back to your community. And I played golf today. I
always support golf, So your head is in the right direction.
Speaker 5 (35:36):
We appreciate it.
Speaker 8 (35:38):
Yeah, I will, I will, I will happily wear it
and I will make a mess of on my golf course.
Speaker 9 (35:43):
As I usually do.
Speaker 4 (35:43):
Sure what he's wearing now, thanks for sure ver you mean,
but not totally wrong. Jalen, thank you very much for
joining us. Really appreciate your time. Enjoy Vegas and have
a good training camp. I'm sure we will both be
heading out to Chicago to see you sooner than later.
Speaker 20 (36:01):
Oh yeah, I know that I'll see you. Guys.
Speaker 9 (36:02):
Some you know forty nine.
Speaker 4 (36:06):
Ers fans look into the screen and going, how nice
is that to see Christian McCaffrey practicing, healthy, looking like himself.
Speaker 9 (36:17):
I mean, it's good.
Speaker 8 (36:19):
This is what you if you're a forty nine Ers fan,
This is literally all you want.
Speaker 4 (36:23):
To see your best player, healthy, looking like a star,
and listen to McCaffrey telling himself feels pretty good.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
You know, It's funny.
Speaker 23 (36:34):
I've I've had a lot of people telling me that
as you get older you need to do less, and
I've I've I think there's there's just a middle ground
with that statement, and so.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
For me, it's it's it's kind of a constant.
Speaker 23 (36:48):
Evaluation of where your body's at and what you need,
and you put a lot of trust in other people,
in your in your you know, trainer, your treatment people, uh,
the guys at the facility, and so if you follow
their plan and you like where it's going and you
start to feel good, but you're just constantly evaluating where
you're at in trusting the whole offseason process.
Speaker 4 (37:09):
All good for the forty nine ers, who, by the way,
were a top ten offense for yards last year, didn't
quite get in there for top ten points per game.
A couple other teams like that Falcons also in the mix.
Every they're your top ten offenses for last year.
Speaker 9 (37:25):
Who is going to be a.
Speaker 8 (37:26):
Top ten offense this year?
Speaker 4 (37:28):
Let's talk to our good friends Steve Weisch and Mark
Ross once again. Steve, I will start with you, who's
making the jump this year?
Speaker 5 (37:36):
Well, first off, I hate.
Speaker 6 (37:37):
The total yards of the offense because to me, that
doesn't really tell you who's.
Speaker 5 (37:40):
The top ten offense.
Speaker 6 (37:41):
We saw the Falcons were top ten offense and didn't
make the playoffs.
Speaker 5 (37:44):
So I want to also good points in there.
Speaker 6 (37:45):
And this is why I love the Denver Broncos because
you look at their last seven games. Now, granted that
all of them were against great defenses, but they averaged
almost thirty three points a game. Bon Nicks in year
two and Sean Payton's offense, he should be better.
Speaker 5 (38:00):
They add R J. Harvey, the rookie running back, got a.
Speaker 6 (38:03):
Central Florida, an explosive player. He fits kindy Alvin Kamara mode.
You know that Sean Payton had down with New Orleans
and also a JK. Dobb It's a tough runner. But
then you that Evan Ingram, the first well chess piece
at tight end. I think with everything they've got working
on offense, they should be better. But total yards are
not going to be there because their defense is one
of the best in the NFL.
Speaker 5 (38:24):
They're not going to give up long fields.
Speaker 6 (38:26):
So that's why I hate the total yards and I'm
more into a scoring Elevan would have come to top
ten more.
Speaker 5 (38:31):
I feel you, Steve.
Speaker 8 (38:31):
I will adjust the graphic just for you next time.
Speaker 5 (38:34):
Mark, What about you?
Speaker 4 (38:35):
Which team is making the leap in twenty twenty five
for their offense?
Speaker 5 (38:39):
Steve completely agree with you.
Speaker 14 (38:41):
I always look at points per game, never yards per game,
and my team is totally indicative of that, and that's
the Los Angeles Chargers, who were twentieth in yards per
game but eleventh in scoring last season.
Speaker 5 (38:51):
They scored when it mattered most.
Speaker 14 (38:53):
And of course it all starts with Justin Herbert, the
dynamic quarterback there who under Harball in year two should
be a lot better. But also their personnel has gotten
tremendously better. Look, they may have the best tackle duo
in all and Sean Slater. Now you get McKay beck then,
the number one offensive lineman on the free agent market
in there to say, okay, we may have the best offensive.
Speaker 5 (39:14):
Line in football now.
Speaker 14 (39:15):
But also for Marion Hampton, the dynamic running buck out
of North Carolina in the first round, and Trey Harris,
the big body wide receiver out of Mississippi in the
second round, who should be able to get in there.
Herowin Lamb mccauckey, let's stop this Quintin Johnston stuff.
Speaker 15 (39:30):
Here.
Speaker 5 (39:30):
They brought Mike Williams back.
Speaker 14 (39:32):
So I think with the Chargers, with the influx of
young talent and veteran talent in year two, with Herbert
and Harball and Lad, they're gonna definitely be maybe top five.
Speaker 8 (39:42):
That's pretty bold.
Speaker 16 (39:43):
I like that.
Speaker 8 (39:43):
I want to go back to the Niners a little bit.
Speaker 4 (39:45):
I kind of mentioned it off the top though, I mean,
obviously Christian McCaffrey is back. They traded Jordan Mason earlier
in this offseason, which really was to me a little
bit of a surprising trade. He got paid, which is great,
but a surprising trade because you sort of thought, all right,
maybe this is their backup plan for Christian McCaffrey. That
goes to show you how much confidence they have in McCaffrey.
Speaker 8 (40:06):
Being like his old self.
Speaker 4 (40:07):
And they had so many things on their to do
list this year this offseason, they had to pay a
bunch of guys, they let a couple friendly faces go.
Speaker 9 (40:13):
But they did all of it right.
Speaker 4 (40:15):
I mean, Kiddle's gotten paid, Purdy's gotten paid. I mean,
they really have set themselves up, assuming miccaffrey is healthy,
they really have set.
Speaker 8 (40:23):
Themselves up to have a no frills, somewhat boring.
Speaker 4 (40:27):
Very effective, very efficient training him and get right back
to probably where they should be as an offense. That's
why to me, that's the team I'm looking. It's not
like there was a huge, massive, massive addition, but certainly
to me, the team that should.
Speaker 8 (40:41):
Make a leap. And by the way, if you guys
want a little more.
Speaker 4 (40:43):
On this, you can check out Gennaro Felice's article NFL
Dot com slash Felice to get a little more on
this topic.
Speaker 8 (40:51):
I know you guys will actually I'll say goodbye to
you now bye, guys.
Speaker 5 (40:54):
You can look look up the article. There you go.
Speaker 8 (40:59):
I'm honest, Steve. For a next full screen, I got.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
You Happy Birthday to the purveyor of the original Jalen
Hurts fan page Akaa Hurts fan Zone a nice little
V Day package from Jalen himself, including a first pair
of Jordan's.
Speaker 2 (41:19):
Right there, Ian, That's that's the time of thing you
said to your fans, right Uh.
Speaker 4 (41:24):
If I had fans Tom, I would definitely send him
a new pair of Jordan I'm just kidding. I would
wear them myself. Maybe some golden gouses would work too.
I also wear those.
Speaker 1 (41:33):
Here's Patrick Mahomes with a fan. I'm told his name
is Lionel Messi. He plays a different game that's called football.
Two of these guys making an Adidas commercial together. Definitely
jersey swap right there. And speaking of goat to goat, well,
Brian Baldier couldn't be here tonight because he's hanging out
and towering over the great one Wayne gretzky Ian. It
(41:57):
can never just be Baldy, you know, had dinner to
He's swimming with sharks with the greatest hockey player of
all time.
Speaker 4 (42:05):
I mean, I would like to know a little more
about what those two were up to. Is it possible
that there was a beverage involved in that dinner? I mean,
those two look like they are having a lot of fun.
You could do worse than hanging out with Baldy and Gretzky.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
Out of hockey game.
Speaker 8 (42:20):
I can think of a lot of worse things, like.
Speaker 1 (42:22):
A lot just saying, and like ten minutes after that photo,
I was told he actually dit s Gretzky to hang
out with Alex Sevenchkin, which I thought was interesting.
Speaker 2 (42:32):
It's a deep hockey joke right there. That's hit a
long spring.
Speaker 5 (42:35):
I mean, he's scrolling on.
Speaker 1 (42:37):
Next week and guess what, We're still back tomorrow, seven
pm Eastern time.
Speaker 2 (42:42):
I know you'll be here too, see
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