04-01-25 Hour 1 of Broncos Country Tonight

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to it Broncos Country Tonight post see you basketball
in the Crown Tournament edition five six six nine Zeros
text line, You guys want to get involved in conversation.
A lot of stuff to get to a big day
today around the NFL and uh with with some of
the news that came down on rule changes things like that.

(00:24):
So we'll get some of that stuff uh here in
just a few Still trying to effort the Broncos local
Pro Day info. That's one of those things. I've been
trying to get some information off a little while. So
if we get that information, I'll get that out to you.
Had some some of you asking about it. In short,
the Broncos have always had the you know, the like
the local pro day where you get prospects of it

(00:45):
are certain radius, you get to bring them in for
a visit doesn't count against your doesn't kind of get
your visits or any that kind of stuff, and so
there is some question about whether that's gonna happen. I'm
asking about that. I'm trying to get that out there.
So for those of you who have asked that is, uh,
you know, that is where we're at on that in
excuse me, local news today, Kaleis Campbell signed a one

(01:09):
year deal with the Arizona Cardinals. Campbell, of course, I
think a lot of people were kind of hoping he
would come out to Denver. Obviously it's not really you know,
room on the Denver defensive line for that, But that
was one of those things with you know, the local
ties and everything. But Kalaias Campbell, who had offers from
the Ravens and Dolphins, ultimately chose the Arizona Cardinals and
in John Gannon, so congratulations to him. Let's see here,

(01:34):
we had a bunch of stuff from league meetings come
out today. I want to get to all that stuff,
some quotes, some rule stuff, some tabling of some rule stuff.
Try to get to all that for you guys. Starting
with the dynamic kickoff. It it is here to stay,
although there's gonna be some tweaks for the coming season.

(01:55):
A proposal that passed at the annual league meeting today
moves the touch back from the thirty to the thirty
five yard line, also change alignment for players lining up
in the setup zone to return kicks. The shift to
the dynamic kickoff was largely considered a success last year,
mostly due to the reduction in injuries suffered, so the
outcome of the first year from an injury perspective was

(02:19):
close to what the league modeler expected. According to Jeff Miller,
who's the NFL executive VP of Communications, Public Affairs and Policy.
You said quote changing that formation led to a confusion
rate very similar or the same as a runner pass play,
which was gratifying and expected to see the decrease in
those injuries. Overall injuries decreased as well, which is great
given the slower speeds on the play and not as

(02:40):
much space. The kickoff decree on the concussion rate led
in part to the league as a whole seeing the
fewest concussions we ever had a record this past season,
which obviously is a great advanced A lot of work
has gone into that, and the kickoff play contributed to
that in a substantial fashion. Broncos special team coordinator new

(03:00):
special teams quartern Darren Rizzey, who was previously with the Saints,
explained that the two objectives special teams coordinators had for
the dynamic kickoff were to make the place safer and
to make it more exciting, and the first part has
been taken care of and so we're trying to move
on to the second. Rizzy said that quote. The play
was a tremendous success. I think the one thing we

(03:21):
have to understand is we're going to see a lot
more kickoff returns now in the NFL like we did
most of us when I was growing up, we saw
a touchback rate of maybe fifteen to twenty five percent
somewhere in that neighborhood. And we feel like that's going
to be the case again. So we're going to bring
more excitement back the league. Was previously noted on the whole,
the NFL had a thirty two point eight percent kickoff

(03:41):
or turn rate in twenty twenty four, after it fell
to twenty one point eight percent in twenty twenty three.
Average field position was the twenty nine point six yard line,
with fifty nine returns.

Speaker 2 (03:51):
Of at least forty yards.

Speaker 1 (03:52):
That's the most since twenty sixteen. The Commanders led the
league with sixty percent of their kickoffs hitting the landing zone,
while the Rams were last at six percent. The vast
majority of Los Angeles kickoff simply went out the end zone,
with the touchback moving to the thirty five yard line.
The analysis could change for teams like LA that punted.
I feel pardon the fun on kicking off, Rizzy said.

(04:18):
Our initial knowledge told us that if the touchback lands
at the thirty five, analytically it's telling you to kick
and cover the ball because really your start line for
drives will be at about the thirty yard line. So
that's why the thirty five yard line is the new
line of demarcation, if you will. We feel like the
touch back of the thirty five, a lot more teams
are now going to put the ball in play, and
that's why we feel there's going to be a lot
more kick returns. There were seven kick returns last year

(04:42):
for touchdowns, but that being said, only about sixteen percent
of kickoffs were returned over the thirty four yard line,
so eighty four percent of the time you had a
chance to tackle and cover inside the thirty five. We
projected kind of the models. Who knows exactly what percentage
is going to be, but I would tell you probably
seventy to seventy five percent range with return rate that
remains to be seen. I think there's a situation for

(05:03):
where there's going to be opportunities for teams to kick
touchbacks and have the ball start on the thirty five,
especially if you are a team with a lead. So
that that came out today not the hottest news, but
certainly I think bigger news is that they continue to

(05:24):
sort of tweak a little bit the the dynamic kickoff role.
The the creator of that, Sam Schwartztein, who created that
for the XFL in its second incarnation, is is mostly
happy with that. I mean, it gets back to closer
with what he had designed when he designed that whole
kickoff from scratch in an effort to kind of make

(05:45):
it more exciting but also eliminate injuries. So we're gonna
try and get him for comment on the show this week.

Speaker 2 (05:51):
This week as.

Speaker 1 (05:51):
Well, that was not the only thing discussed. Owners discussed
the tush push play for more than half an hour.
The chairman of the Competition Committee, Rich McKay, said that
in the end, the vote was tabled until the May meetings.
The packers who presented the proposals seeking to ban the

(06:12):
play want the committee to consider banning pushing or pulling
of any player or on any play. A lot of
discussion about it, a lot of teams have views, McKay said,
you never like any discussion in any room to be
projected toward a team or two. It's never something we
like doing. In this case, I think the discussion has
become number one safety number two. Should you have to
defend it in number three? This is part of the

(06:33):
history of football. All those kinds of discussions happened. I
think we evolved to the idea that up to two
thousand and four, we had rules in place that prohibited
pushing and pulling, just prohibited it. We deleted that from
the rule book because it became harder for officials to
officiate it downfield, So.

Speaker 2 (06:47):
That got deleted.

Speaker 1 (06:49):
From that came a play like this, a formation like this,
So I think the idea was listen As opposed to
voting on this proposal today, green Bay asked, could you
go back and talk about reintroducing the two thousand and
four language studied under standard talk about it again, we
get back to May. This is the third offseason the
Competition Committee has reviewed the play. That the first time
a club has submitted a rules proposal aimed at eliminating

(07:11):
or restricting it. McKay admitted there are no current safety
concerns with the play, although Bills coach Sean McDermott did
cite health and safety as the reason he wanted a ban.
No player has ever been seriously injured on the play,
and McKay said not enough data exists regarding health and
safety of the play, so I quote, a lot of
people are concerned with what may be potential injuries in

(07:34):
the future. Instead of banning one play mostly used by
one team, So the Competition committee now will began researching
whether the outlaw pushing or pulling on both sides of
the ball. As McKay pointed out, the offense is allowed
to push something defensive players are prohibited from doing, and
the Eagles and Bills have scored a touchdown or achieved
a first down on eighty seven percent of their attempts

(07:55):
at using the play. I talked about this on the
show and also with the guys on KA Sports, and
this to me seems obvious. This is one of those
things where if you're going to ban this, you can't
ban the play. You have to ban the concept. You've
got to go back to the two thousand and four
rules about pushing and pulling, and that's really just the

(08:15):
crux of it. So, you know, I don't know in
May if they're going to get this thing passed. I
will say the room was split. It was literally split
down the middle, sixteen votes for, sixteen votes against. They
need twenty four total votes in an effort to pass
a rules change, so they would need the people who
are trying to ban it would need eight teams to

(08:36):
switch their position on it. I'm told from people in
the room that they believe that one or two of
those votes that are against them are soft votes, so
they feel like they'll need to swing six or seven
votes really in an effort to get them or convince
six or seven teams in an effort to get that
play banned. We'll see how that goes, and obviously we'll
keep it updated, but that's been tabled until May, and

(08:58):
so there's no new, you know, information on that other
than that's where it sits right now. So you know,
it's again I'm one of these people that I don't
like banning a play just because you can't stop it.
I hate that, But in concept, I also hate the

(09:19):
idea of offensive players being allowed to push or pull
a ball carrier whereas defensive players cannot do that. And
so anything that does that that that sort of creates
an imbalance I.

Speaker 2 (09:32):
Dislike.

Speaker 1 (09:34):
In terms of rules changes, the NFL did send out
a memo today. The proof playing rules summary was one
A by the Competition Committee that emitted rule six and
that's the as we already talked about. The kickoff rules,
also to A by the Competition Committee. It aligns the

(09:56):
postseason and regular season overtime rules, granting both teams an
opportunity to possess the ball regardless of the outcome of
the first possession, with a ten minute cap on the
overtime period. What that means is there's no longer a
if you score a touchdown on your first possession instead
of a field goal, it's over. Both sides get to
possess the ball in overtime period. So that's you know,

(10:17):
that's sort of where we're at with this, which lines
up with the playoff rules and probably where this rule
always should have been, but you know, is what it is.
And then the other Competition Committee rule that was passed
was at amendment to Rule fifteen, which expands instant replays
ability to advise on field officials on specific objective aspects

(10:38):
of a play and or to address game administration issues
when clear and obvious video evidence is present, so not
a whole lot to that by laws summary that were approved.
We had three of them, the Competition Committee did all three.
One of them is Articles seventeen, Section seventeen point one
six of the the NFL Constitution and by Laws permits

(11:00):
clubs to designate two players for return at the roster
reduction to fifty three players, meaning when you have the
cut down to fifty three, you can now designate two
players to return from injury at that point, so you
don't have to do the whole like we're going to
cut you for one day, turn around and then sign
you back. Rigamarole thing. That's finally over with, you know,
hopefully for all time. That's a great move. Another one

(11:22):
to the same portion will permit clubs participating in the
postseason to receive two additional designated for returns, increasing the
maximum from eight to ten. So if you're in the playoffs,
if you make the playoffs, you get two additional designated
to return players that they can possibly come back off
injury off the r So I like that as well.

(11:43):
I think, especially with the league careening towards an eighteen
game season, the amount of bodies that you can get
back later towards the playoffs are guys you can bring back,
and you know, increasing that I think is a good idea.

Speaker 2 (11:57):
And then.

Speaker 1 (11:59):
The Article eighteen, section eighteen point five of the Constution
Bylaws inserts point differential as the third tiebreaker for awarding contracts.
So that's really not going to affect anybody right now,
that's not really that's not really a thing.

Speaker 2 (12:15):
So whatever anybody's know.

Speaker 1 (12:17):
As far as the team rules approve resolutions, there were
three of them as well. One by Pittsburgh and this
is a one year only trial, permits clubs to have
one video call or phone call with no more than
five perspective unrestricted free agents during the two day negotiation period.
It permits clubs to make travel arrangements with such players

(12:38):
upon agreen to term so that legal tampering period. Clubs
used to not be able to do travel and things
like that. You had to actually wait till league your starts.
Now they're allowing you to do that, which to me
is something that they should be allowed to do upon
the conclusion of this season. But again that's neither here
nor there. The other approved resolutions, let's see here, you

(13:03):
had one by Washington and this is not a one
year this is for it permits clubs that qualify for
the postseason to obtain scouting credentials for two consecutive games
Week seventeen and eighteen played by a potential postseason opponent. Previously,
if you were trying to get scouting credentials to go
to other teams games, you couldn't do two consecutive games.
It's still league rule. It allows it requires clubs ecuse

(13:26):
me hosting wildcard games to provide scouting credentials to all
teams within the same conference who are participating in the postseason.
So it just kind of knocks out some of these
loop holes where people could be kind of snarky and
not allow your opponents to come in and do advanced scouting.
And then the last one has to do with kicking footballs.
The Ravens, Browns, Texans, Raiders, Vikings, and Eagles all and

(13:47):
Washington all signed on for this one. It was to
permit clubs to prepare kicking footballs or cables before game day,
similar to the process permitted for game footballs, and that
just allows them to get them roughed up a little
ready for you, that kind of thing. So kicking football
is allowed to be allowed to be prepared in that
way now as well. So those were the those were

(14:12):
the main things. You know, with all that it looks,
you know, it looks looks pretty good, I don't. I
don't think I have any of these I totally I
disagree with The main thing of the bone of contention
is going to be the whole touch push thing, and
that that's the one that's pretty heated with with.

Speaker 2 (14:26):
You know, like I.

Speaker 1 (14:27):
Said, half the league one way, half the league the other.
And it's going to be interesting to see where everybody
comes down on this in May, because you got to
you got a month to sort of go back and
explain why they should revert to the two thousand pre
two thousand and four rules of not allowing offensive players
to be pushed or pulled forward for any gain. Uh

(14:49):
And if you do that, you know then which I'm
for that concept. I never liked deleting that rule. The
only reason they deleted that rule was because adjudication of
penalizing it was a problem due to the referees.

Speaker 2 (15:02):
I liked that rule.

Speaker 1 (15:03):
I don't like the idea that the offense can push
your pull players where the defense can. I don't like
any rule that tilts the game in that regard, whatever
you think of whatever you think of that play, And
I hate the idea of again, I hate the idea
of banning a play just because nobody can stop it.
But conceptually, I don't like the idea of offenses be
able to push their player forward and defenses have no

(15:25):
no recourse right so to me, I feel, I really
do feel like that that this is one of those
things where you know, the league has the opportunity to
get right by bringing that language back and not allowing
not allowing offenses to to propel players forward using non

(15:48):
ballcarriers to do it. I just something about that bugs me,
And maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm the weirdo. You
guys feel free to tell me if if you disagree
on that or not. I've got some I got some
news on Aaron Rodgers. We'll get to that here in
just a few got a little bit of news on
the Steelers owner talking about that. The other proposal that

(16:15):
we didn't get a chance to get to. I'll get
to that, and that was the Lion's proposal on playoff
reseating that's also been tabled to May. I'll get into
that when we come back that we'll talk about Aaron Rodgers,
anything else you guys want to discuss. Appreciate you guys
listening post See You Buffs Basketball men's basketball addition at
the Crown Tournament that they're having there. So I appreciate
you guys sticking around and listening to the show tonight.

(16:37):
Whatever you guys want to get into, we will get
into right here. Five six six nine zeros. The text line,
I got to hit a break. When we come back,
we'll get into that Lion's rule proposal. We'll get the
Aaron Rodgers News. Appreciate you guys sticking around Broncos Country
night right here.

Speaker 2 (16:49):
On kW.

Speaker 1 (16:51):
Welcome back to it Broncos Country tonight. Benjamin all right
here with you. Five six six nine zeros. The text line,
I appreciate you guys sticking with us tonight after the
short show post See You Basketball edition five six six
nine zeros. A text line and a couple of high
brin Yes we are this this thing is on. I'm
having some trouble responding out of the text line right now,

(17:13):
So some of you guys who interact on the text line,
if you get responses from me, normally I try to
message you guys back. If you're not getting responses, we're
having some issues here. I can still read what you're
sending me, but I am not able to I'm not
able to send. So for whatever reason, I did talk
to you guys before we hit the break, I said,
I talked about the Lions proposal that's been tabled. I

(17:36):
hate this one, but we can get into this one
and then some Aaron Rodgers news, So we'll get to
that here in just a second. The league has tabled
the Lion's proposal to determine playoffs seating solely by record,
that measure was tabled, not voted on, so it suggests
that it has support but not enough votes to pass
right now. Generally they don't table stuff unless you've got

(17:58):
like twelve, thirteen to fourteen votes. If you've got if
you're close to half the league, you know, and you
know some people are soft support, that are soft knows,
but that may support if you change a little language.
That generally is the case. So this generally indicates that
there's some support for it, but not strong enough right
now for it to be able to pass. So the proposal,

(18:21):
which would mark a significant shift in the way the
postseason matchups are determined. Currently, the four division winners in
each conference are guaranteed a home playoff game. If the
Lion's proposal is eventually adopted at the owner's meeting in
May or down the road, it would inherently devalue a
division title. That's the issue that Rams head coach Sean

(18:42):
McVeigh had with the proposal when he discussed it during
an interview yesterday. I think who was PFT Live Not
une percent sure, but I do have the quotes here
he says.

Speaker 2 (18:53):
I'm hopeful that it doesn't go through.

Speaker 1 (18:55):
Said mcveigh's a member of the competition committee. I would
be all for it if we played all fifteen NFC
teams and then two cross conference games. But when you're
playing six divisional games, then you've got the strength of
schedule based on whatever the previous year's record was and finished.

Speaker 2 (19:10):
It's not all the same.

Speaker 1 (19:12):
So I do think there is something to be said
for winning your division that means something, and until recently,
until there's an adjustment in regards to like schedules things
of that nature, I think it's gonna be tough. The
schedule format won't change in twenty twenty five, so that's
set in stone, but there's a chance to post seeding

(19:34):
schedule might And I'm with Sean McVeigh on this. I
hate the idea of changing the scheduling that the playoff
seating to devalue the winning the division championships. And part
of it is for the reason that McVeigh suggested, because
the schedules aren't equal. If you had equal schedules, i'd
be all for doing it that way, but we don't.

(19:55):
Right now, we have what's called, you know, last play schedule.
So if somebody like, for instance, the Jaguars finish the
last in their division, they get to play all the
last place teams and it gives them an easier schedule. Well,
if you're not basing it on division, you're just basing
it on schedule. You're inherently giving teams an easier schedule
and an easier path to the playoffs and not rewarding
the teams who who have already you know, done the work.

(20:18):
In fact, it punishes, it's punitive to them. They got
to play a first play schedule. Now, I will say
that it is, and it's already difficult for teams that
do well to keep those units together. You know, the
league is all about creating a parody or at least
the appearance of parody of the opportunity. But in the NFL,
it's difficult. Teams that win the Super Bowl, well what happens.

(20:39):
Players want to cash in, right. We saw that here
in Denver after the Super Bowl, Malie Jackson and you know,
Julius Thomas. The guys want to cash in, right. They
won the ring, so they want to cash in. And
I don't begrudge the players that at all, but it
makes it difficult for teams to keep their cores together
in a lot of ways and create repeat opportunities and
dynasties and things like that. And I think those are
inherently good. I understand that. Right now, everybody's gonna growan

(21:01):
about that because the dynasty's you know, sort of Kansas City.
But at the same time, like if and when the
Broncos get there, you know, you don't want to create
a situation where it creates easier paths for teams like
the Raiders while being punitive to teams who won games
and went to the playoffs last year, like the Denver Broncos.
So you know, I when when I look at this,

(21:23):
I'm with Sean McVay on it. I do not like
the idea. I do like the idea of it determined
by winning the division. I do think there should be
merit and value to winning a division. Otherwise, what are
we even doing with divisions? We should just get rid
of them. So you know, I'm with Sean McVay on that.
I don't like the Lion's proposal. I don't like it
as stated, and I think that the about the only

(21:43):
way that I would be okay with okay with changing
that is if they adopted a scheduling format similar to
what Sean McVay suggested, which is that the NFC plays
all the NFC teams plus two crossovers, and the AFC
plays and that creates it's a more equitable schedule scenario
which where your tie breakers are literally based off everybody

(22:05):
having played the same schedule, and makes it I think,
more equitable affair. That's my opinion on it. I would
love to hear what you guys think about it, but
as it sits for me, I am I am against
just throwing the seeds out there willy nilly and going
from there. I did promise you guys my Rodgers news,

(22:27):
and I believe he's going to the Steelers. I've said
that for quite some time now. I still believe that's
going to be the case. He did get the throwing
session in with DK Metcalf, all that kind of stuff.
Steelers owner Art Running the Second sounded pretty confident that
Rogers will be signed with the Steelers soon, saying quote,
we keep hearing he's I guess headed in our directions.
That seems to be that all signs are positive so far.
It's Vielbrook, prior of ESPN. Rooney acknowledged, however, that he

(22:52):
didn't expect to still be working on this in April
and that the Steelers can't wait forever for Rogers to
make up his mind, saying quote, no, didn't envision it
taking this long. Not forever, but a little while longer.
Rooney he said it was a good sign that Rogers
spent time working with new Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf
last weekend. There are positive signs that a deal will
get done. The framework for this stuff has existed for months.

(23:12):
It's really just a question of getting Aaron Rodgers to commit.
At this point that that's that's really the hold up,
and Rodgers understands that this is probably his last team. So,
you know, I think that Aaron Rodgers is trying to
take his time because he understands that this is it.
This is the last stop, this is the legacy. If

(23:33):
I'm gonna win another one, uh, make the Hall of Fame,
you know, all those kinds of things. Uh that he
has got to win another super Bowl. If he's that,
he's gonna have to have it be the right fit,
the right place. And whether he does the Steelers or
takes a year off and then comes back, whatever the
case may be, he has got to figure out what

(23:53):
that that is best for him. And whatever you think
of Aaron Rodgers, he's in his right to do that.
You know, he's certainly in his right to to know
to figure some stuff out for himself.

Speaker 2 (24:03):
And so you know, I I don't I don't begrudge
him that. I I don't. I don't.

Speaker 1 (24:12):
I don't believe that that's a I don't believe that's
a thing that you should take lightly.

Speaker 2 (24:18):
Your legacy is online.

Speaker 1 (24:19):
This is, like I said, for all intents and purposes,
this is going to be Aaron rodgers last football team.

Speaker 2 (24:23):
So with that said, I'm not.

Speaker 1 (24:29):
I understand why some Steelers people in the organization or
players would say, hey, look, we need to get a
decision done and get moving because they want to get
their organization movie forward. But for Aaron Rodgers, it's his career,
his legacy, and I also understand that that side of
the coin on it. So I don't, you know, as
much as I dislike Aaron Rodgers sort of hypocritical preening
about some of the things that he does this particular case, man,

(24:53):
he's got the right to choose where he wants to
go or doesn't want to go, and take as much
time as he needs to do so. And if teams
don't want to be you know, if teams don't want
to wait on him, it's there within their right to
move on. So I'm not I don't big grudge him that.
I'm not against it Aaron Rodger to take all the
time he needs to. I sort of get, you know again,
I get that Pittsburgh wants to get everything so that
they can they can focus the draft on building the

(25:17):
right team around him. But you know, maybe maybe the
Steelers just need to adopt the mentality that they need
to go into the draft and just draft the best players,
and if they do that, they'll wind up with a
good team and hopefully be able to win from there.
Report came out this morning that the Dallas Cowboys have
offered to make Micah Parsons the highest paid non quarterback

(25:40):
in the NFL, and that Parsons has agreed to the
framework of that extension. Clarence Hill reported that he's a
relyable reporter down there in Dallas part and he reported
that Parsons and Jerry Jones have agreed on the deal,
which would surpass the contract signed by my Garrett and

(26:00):
Jamar Chase. The interesting part of this, though, the caveat
is that Dallas has not included Michael parsons agent, David
Mullagatta in the talks and that Parsons won't move forward
without a final agreement with the final agreement until his
agent is evolved Jones. Jerry Jones confirmed that he and

(26:24):
Michael Parsons have been speaking directly later in the day,
so confirming that part of the report and explain why
he's chosen to handle things in his particular way. Jones,
talking to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, said quote,
I'm the one who has to write the check, and
Micah is the one who has to agree to it.

(26:46):
That's the straightest way to get there. That's the principle
that's involved here. Jerry Jones also said that he and
Parsons are in agreement on quote most of the issues
end quote regarding the extension, but nothing is imminent in
terms of closing the deal. It's not clear when that
might change, but certainly a path to the finish line

(27:07):
seems to be, you know, taking shape there in Dallas.
And you know, there's a lot of people that talk
about Jerry hurting himself in the negotiation front because it
takes a lot longer for Dallas to get things done.
They're usually reactive to the market and they wind up

(27:30):
paying more. They did it with Dak, they did it
with Ceedee Lamb, and so you know, there's sort of
a there's sort of a collective groan from Dallas fans
when they're saying, what but I understand what Jerry's doing.
And Jerry's trying to get the by talking directly to
the player, trying to get the framework in and then
you get the agent to come in and do all

(27:51):
that kind of stuff. There's some there was some stuff
out there about you know, parsons say it a self
somebody by not using the agent. I never recommend that be.
The amount of money that agents make is negligible. I mean,
it's not a lot. The maximum amount that an NFL
agent can make is three percent of the players contract.

(28:14):
Three percent. That's the max. Most guys do it for less,
and it's a reason that so many players, especially the
high dollar ones, are concentrated with so few agents because
those guys have the money to offer you know, marketing guarantees,
which is how they get around that three percent, and
they turn around and take a lower cut on the percentage.

(28:36):
They basically buy up the players if you're you know,
a lower end. If you're an agent who is more
of a boutique agent, smaller guy, smaller outfit. You find
a guy, you get him through that first contract. Uh.
And then what happens That guy looks at the you know,
the three or four guys that are getting the biggest
money for their clients, uh, and they turn around and
go sign with them because they believe that they're gonna
you know, this guy will only take one and a
half percent instead of three percent. Uh, and they believe

(28:57):
he's got a better pathway to it. And it's just
the agent game in the NFL sucks. In the NBA
at least contracts are guaranteed. Agents there get four percent maximum.
But the the idea that the way the agent game
is done, it's just it's just so rough. And if
you ever talk to these guys like it is, it
is a it is a snake pit. It is a
is a viper pit out there for guys. And so

(29:21):
I don't want to get too deep in the weeds
on that, but the idea that Michael Parsons shouldn't hire
an agent, I'd be against that. Go in there, get
the clauses, get the things that you need to get
that nobody's going to make you aware of that. The
agents are. If you're Michael Parsons, you got a little
bit of leverage right now. Probably do a no trade clause.
You know a few other things in there that maybe
a few other players couldn't get, and and and get

(29:43):
that done. That that seems to be where that's at.
But it seems to be headed into positive direction. If
you're a Parsons in Dallas fan, it seems to be
based on reporting from Clarence Hill headed on Headed to
a positive place. One of the other things to come
out today, the NFL added language in Rule twelve, Section three,

(30:05):
Article one D. They're trying to make sportsmanship a focal point.
Executive VP of Football Operations Troy Vincent said they're going
to double down on sportsmanship this next season. He said,
quote violent gestures are up one hundred and thirty three percent,
sexual taunting is up fifty two percent. The topic was

(30:28):
discussed with coaches and general managers this morning. Vincent said
it has no place in the game. We have clear
video examples. We'll share with the players about it and
what it means to be a professional. At old times,
they added the language to make the quote nosewipe celebration
illegal and for those that are not familiar, it was
made infamous by Cowboys receiver CD Lamb, and it is

(30:50):
a it's a gang sign associated with the Bloods, indicating
that somebody is untrustworthy. That's that's sort of where that
or where that comes from. Beginning next season, that nosewipe celebration,
which Lamb has used since the end of the league
back in twenty twenty, will become a fifteen yard penalty.

(31:10):
He Ceede Lamb got on social media. When was it
last Wednesday? I guess it was, and said smh, which
is you know, shaking my head. I have plenty in
mind with an unamused face emoji, so you know, and

(31:31):
I mean they call it the Ceedee Lamb rule, so
it's really you know.

Speaker 2 (31:35):
About him.

Speaker 1 (31:36):
But other actions have included, but not limited to, the
throat slash, gesture, simulating firing or brandishing a gun, all
specific actions prohibited by the unsports light Conduct rule. Vincent said, quote,
the nose wipe has gang connotations. It's disrespectful. It's just
where we are in society. Young men that come from
that era, from that age, they've they've grown up on

(31:57):
social media. If you googled nose wipe, you'll see the lang,
which that it's used, and where it's affiliated. I think
players know better. I know they know better. We're focusing
on a small fraction of players, but sportsmanship is important.
When you see it, you got to kill it, you
got to stop it immediately. Most players don't want it
in the game either. I don't know that that really
there's an outcry on that. I sort of get where

(32:18):
Troy Evince is coming from. But and I definitely understand
the you know, the connotation all that, but you know,
I mean, at the end of the day, I think
for me, you either have to almost you're gonna get
to the point where you're micro managing celebrations and at
some point you're either going to get to the point
where you have to either outright bands celebrating altogether and

(32:39):
just you know, and be the no fun league, or
you just got to let it go and let people
do what they want. And as long as it's not
something that's considered seen by the FCC, who you know,
is your governs, your your broadcast stuff, then I you know,
I think that that's that's probably where you wind up
with it.

Speaker 2 (32:58):
I just I don't know. It's so tough for me.

Speaker 1 (33:02):
Because where do you come down on what's you know,
non sportsmanship, what's not, what's offensive, what's not you know,
it's arbitrary decisions and it changes year to year. And
to me, again, if you're giving the officials too much
to sit there to judicate, like, what are we doing?
We want the we want the context of the game
to be adjudicated properly, not them sitting there waiting for

(33:22):
you know, those kinds of things. So you know, I
don't know real quick. Brian Dabele came out today and
who's going to be calling plays for Russell Wilson and
said that he makes good decisions with the football. Athletic,
maybe a little older, not as athletic as he was
in twenty thirteen or fourteen, but certainly has ability to
use his legs, extend plays, great explosive plays, phenomenost deep

(33:44):
ball thrower, create a bunch of explosive plays and scoring.

Speaker 2 (33:48):
Points for his team.

Speaker 1 (33:48):
Does a good job making good decisions with the football
the games he's played. They've all went on to say
that he thinks that wide receivers Molik Neighbors and Darius
Slayton match up well with Russell Wilson's ability to uncort
deep balls.

Speaker 2 (34:00):
I have.

Speaker 1 (34:00):
We have some fast guys on the perimeter. We've got
some big young tight ends. It can get down the
seam where that goes from there. We got to get together,
put something together. It's good for everybody. Look forward to
seeing Malik and his second year. Glad we got sligh back,
you know, keep working the other guys stables. Picture of
Ross might be you know, a little rosier certainly than
fans in Denver. But uh, he's he's got a bit

(34:22):
riding on Wilson thriving as a member of the Giants,
making sure those qualities shine through on the field.

Speaker 2 (34:27):
That's going to be his top priority this year.

Speaker 1 (34:29):
I don't think the Giants are done looking at quarterback
and we'll get into more of that with Nick you know,
tomorrow get an opportunity to get too some of that
stuff as well. Appreciate you guys listening to abbreviated show tonight.
Look forward for a full show tomorrow night, or at
least a partial show tomorro night. Full show Thursday, Broncos
Country Night, Kaway