August 24, 2019 • 36 mins
Hub Arkush and Arthur Arkush spend some time recapping some of the biggest news stories around the league including the latest on Antonio Brown's helmet search, Daniel Jones' impact in New York, the large contract extension that Zeke Elliot could receive in Dallas and a look at Washington's headlines. Plus much more NFL News!
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Episode Transcript
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(00:11):
Hi, everybody. Welcome to thisweek's edition of our Pro Football Weekly NFL
podcast. I am Hub Arkers,the executive editor and general manager at Pro
Football Weekly, and I am joinedas I am most weeks almost every week
by our managing editor, Arthur Arkish, and we're getting close to it,
Arthur. As we record on Friday, we are literally eight days away from
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the NFL's final cutdown to form thethirty two rosters for the coming season.
Teams playing the third exhibition game inmost cases during the course of this week.
It used to be really significant.There is a growing trend around the
league of teams that don't play guyseven an exhibition number three. But at
the end of the day, weare inside of two weeks to the opener
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on Thursday night in Chicago, andnot a ton of news around the NFL,
but certainly some interesting stories. AndI guess we have to go back
to Oakland and talk about Antonio Brownand figure out what he's doing now,
because he was with the team fortheir exhibition game in Canada this week,
but also the day before filed anew appeal with the NFL over his helmet,
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and that was immediately after both generalmanager Mike Mayock and head coach John
Bruten came out and said, enoughis enough. Either you're rolling with us
or you're not. So really hardto get our arms around this point.
What's going on out there? Itis, but it sounds like they finally
stabilized the situation just a tad bit. I know that Antonio Brown was scheduled
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to have another grievance with the NFLregarding his desire to wear one of the
band helmets, and I believe sincethen they found one that can work for
him. He's been practicing in it, and you know, according to you
know what we've been able to seeon Twitter a little bit, we've been
able to gather seems okay, seemspast the foot issue. So now we
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can just wait and you know,wait on the next issue with Antonio Brown
and the Raiders to pop up.I can't imagine it'll be too long.
No, it probably won't be.You know. My understanding is that the
NFL has already said no to whathe has basing his second appeal on,
even though he has found this newer, old model of the helmet. And
I think it's got to be frustratingto certainly to mayok. I know it
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is, and probably to Gruden too, that even after they've asked him to
stop that, he's gone out andfiled this whateverever his third or fourth appeal.
Now, yeah, but you kindof reap what you sew, right,
I mean, everyone else saw thiscoming in March when Oakland made just
the ridiculous risk to do this,not so much the draft compensation but the
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thirty million in new guaranteed paper.So whether it's going to be the train
wreck we can't our eyes off,or you know, I'm hoping we're going
to see vintage Antonio Brown again,as unlikely as that feels, how we'll
be monitoring it for sure. Iknow you're not much of a Hard Knocks
fan, so I've been watching itso you don't have to, And all
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I can say is it's I've beenreally disappointed. I just, uh,
I can't imagine how you could seeeverything going on in Oakland and all the
opportunities and somehow make this, uh, this season boring. But that's kind
of how I would describe it.And I'm not as big a Frank Caliendo
fan as others. I guess Ididn't even get a much of a kick
out of the John Gruden impression thatstarted last week. So I did like
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the Darren Walls story. It's areally cool one. He being in recovery
and apparently having a great camp andhaving an opportunity to be a real part
of this offense. So I enjoyedthat. But it's just been far too
much Antonio Brown, and I'm stillnot sure they've really gotten to the core
of just how I don't know,volatile, just how turbulent things have been
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over the past month to begin hisRaider's career. Yeah, I think,
just to be clear, for allof our listeners, nobody needs somebody else
to watch Hard Knocks, so theydon't have to. I personally object to
the show. I don't watch itfor reasons that I've discussed more than I
care to anymore. And you know, for those folks who enjoy it,
good for you. I'm not suggestingyou shouldn't. I'm not sure that it
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helps anybody in regards to building afootball team. In a matter of fact,
i'm pretty sure it doesn't. Butthat's the NFL's decision to market itself
and make money in the way itchooses to, so we can move on.
From that, you know you're talkingto a guy who if the show
has branded reality TV, it's animmediate nonstarter for me because I've never seen
anything less real in my life thanreality TV. But enough on Hard Knocks
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and probably enough on the Raiders forthe moment, especially for those people who
are watching the show. Another storythat is brewing and is kind of interesting
to me anyway. A chance towatch and actually go back and study the
Bears Giants preseason game last week,in part because we do a little lecture
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work on the Bears being based inChicago, and came away very impressed with
Daniel Jones. And Jones played wellagain this week and exhibition game number three.
He is not going to be theopening day starter. Eli Manning is.
But for all the debate and allthe discussion and all the craft that
Dave Geelman and the Giants took fordrafting Jones at number six, and that
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may never go away because some peoplewill always believe, I'm probably one of
them, that he would have beenavailable for him at seventeen. The real
question is that they have their quarterbackof the future, and this is a
young man who's having a pretty impressiveexhibition season for himself. Yeah, he
is actually better Thursday night than hewas last weekend against the Bears, when
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he threw a beautiful touchdown in anotherreally good deep completion a couple of them
actually against the Bears second string defense, but also struggled a little bit with
ball security, lost a couple offumbles. I guess he lost one fumble,
but did put it on the grounda few times, so and even
cleaner outing last night. The guywas twenty five or thirty. Well,
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now that's his whole preseason line.He's now got two tds and zero interceptions,
nine of eleven last night for onehundred and forty one yards. So
look, I mean, I don'tknow what's not to like thus far,
but we can't kind of view Jonesthrough a different preseason lens than we're viewing
everyone else. Obviously, you'd rathersee him not struggle, not look like
the game. You know, it'stoo big for him, and I don't
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think that has been the case.But it'll be a while yet because the
way the Giants are choosing to handlethis thing, and because Eli Manning has
been you know, efficient in thepreseason as well. Until we know whether
this pick was the right one ornot, but the very very early return
certainly are encouraging, you know what. I find fascinating by it, though,
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Arthur, And we have to remember, I'm trying to call at what
point Getleman first left the Giants organization, but I'm reasonably sure he was there.
I want to say it was inO four when they drafted Eli Manning.
And the reason I mentioned it isbecause as I watched Daniel Jones,
you know, and I try andfind a cop for him amongst excellent NFL
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quarterbacks, the first guy that comesto mind is Eli Manning. That's kind
of who he reminds me of.Right now, I kind of agree.
I mean, Jones is way moreathletic than Eli Manning. But yeah,
in terms of, you know,kind of being I don't know, relatively
accurate. I mean, I'm notsure if I buy that com pub only
because Jones is more touted for hisaccuracy that's never really been Eli's strength.
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Jones is more tided for his decisionmaking, which has also never really been
Eli's strength. But in terms ofthe intangibles that we've been hearing all about,
clearly they're both smart guys who cancommand a locker room and certainly,
you know, learn an offensive playbook, and it's been positive in that regard
To me, I don't know stylistically, I actually think they're a bit different.
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Yeah, I would just suggest goback and take a look at some
tape of Eli, you know,seventeen years ago. I mean, we're
comparing Jones to today's Eli Manning.Eli was not a bad athlete coming out
of school, and I disagree thataccuracy has been a problem. Yeah,
he's at times throwing the ball intosome spots you kind of wish he hasn't
interceptions of dodging throughout his career.But I think accuracy has always been one
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of Eli's strength. And when Isee Jones standing in the pocket, he
just looks very much to me likeEli kind of surveying the football field.
So, you know, hub,can I just enterject quickly? Eli Manning's
career completion percentage is sixty point three, so I think Drew Brees is closer
to seventy. I don't know howwe can say accuracy has been one of
his strengths, but that's we'll agreeto disagree on this one. It sounds
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like, yeah, what we cansay it because I don't know that accuracy
is necessarily the main component completion percentage. It has a lot to do with
the offense that you're running, thethrows, you're trying to make a lot
of the things you're trying to do. But at the end of the day,
it's irrelevant. Nobody's saying that he'san Eli Manning clone. I'm just
saying when I look at and reallyI wasn't talking so much about style or
football. I was talking about personalityand leadership and the way he carries himself
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carries himself. And that's really what'smade Eli part of the Hall of Fame
conversation that in the two rings,because certainly with his numbers, with his
passing numbers, you wouldn't be talkingabout him as an elite quarterback. And
so that's kind of the comparison Isee. I don't know that Jones will
ever pile up great numbers either,but he just kind of reminds me of
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Eli and the way he carries himself, the way he's handling this situation,
and the way he looks to mewhen he's standing back there in the pocket.
Yeah, I get that part forsure. The intangibles without question.
Hub, Just to to circle backon one thing you had said, Dave
Gettelman, you're absolutely right. Hewas the pro personnel director from ninety nine
to twenty eleven, so yeah,he was there more on the pro personnel
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side, but of course there whenEli arrived. What in two thousand and
three, I want to say,so, yeah, a two thousand and
four excuse me, but a goodstart, and you know, maybe a
chance for some redemption, not theguttleman necessarily needs it, but obviously he's
been getting dragged all offseason, andhey, frankly, so has Daniel Jones.
I mean, he got booed atthe whatever it was, a Mets
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or Yankees game shortly after getting drafted. He's got Baker Mayfield all up in
his business as recently as last week. So he has not deserved the wrath
that he has received in this wholething. It wasn't his apology to make
that he was drafted sixth. Overall, he should be excited about it,
and it kind of it frankly makeshim an easy guy to root for,
just because of the unfortunate way he'ssort of been handled early on or the
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way he's been received very early on. Yeah, I mean I couldn't agree
more. I mean that the kiddoesn't deserve any of this, and that's
where my Eli comp comes from,and that Eli's taking crap his entire career
as well is right on some partjust for being Peyton's little brother, and
the way that Jones has handled asreally unflappable, really seeming decision most of
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the time, he's going about hisbusiness and taking care of things. Did
did you see the photo last nightof the media swarm around Daniel Jones and
then right next to the locker nextto him is Eli Manning putting his shoes
on with just I mean, he'sbasically getting run over by the New York
media, but he doesn't have oneguy. It was just a very poignant
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picture. I believe it was TomRock on Twitter of Newsday who first posted
it, but it's just it wasa fascinating image coming off last night's game,
Thursday night's game. Yeah, Ihaven't seen it, will certainly take
a look for it. You know, it's the reality of professional sports.
I don't care who you're talking about. Careers begin, careers end. A
lot of guys get caught in themiddle. But this particular case, Eli
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would probably be the first one totell you that that he knows the end
is near in New York, hasreally suspected it the last couple of years.
And I'm just impressed by the waythese two are handling it and the
way they're going about it. AndI think Shermer is to be credited as
well as far as Dave Getleman.He oftentimes is his own worst enemy with
the things he says that causes alot of the conversation around him. But
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it'll be interesting to watch. Idon't think the Giants are as bad a
football team as people have made themout to be. A lot of people
have them locked in the last placein the NFC East. I probably will
not be picking them there. Goback and take a look at how they
were playing last four or five sixweeks of last season, before the Daniel
Jones stuff even came about, andagain it'll be Eli under center at least
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early in the season. So tome, they've just been a very interesting
team to watch this preseason. AndI'll tell you what, we should stick
with the NFC East narrative here becausea couple other interests. I mean,
there's no shortage of intrigued with what'sgoing on with the Dallas Cowboys, including
a recent report from ad Worder backat ESPN. Congratulations add about the most
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recent contract offer coming from the Cowboys, readying to make Ezekiel Elliott the second
high it's paid running back in theNFL, behind only Todd Gurley. We
should definitely discuss that. I'm curiousto get your thoughts. And then also
a really unfortunate development in Washington,if not surprising, with Jordan Read being
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evaluated last Nate for yet another concussion. It was a ridiculously egregious hit by
Falcon safety Kian O'Neil. But thestory here is, if it is confirmed,
it would be at least Jordan Readsix reported concussion during his football career.
And just you know, what elsecan you say about Jordan Reid's football
career. It's it's been intermixed,unfortunately not often enough with those flashes of
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brilliance and unfortunately a lot more sowith the injuries, including the brain injuries.
Yeah, well, let's start thereand then we'll come back to the
Cowboys, because quite frankly, I'mstunned the Cowboys are offering zeke a contract
at all based on the status ofhis rookie deal on where they're at with
other issues. We'll get to thatin a minute. Also, not the
only controversial'll hit this week, andthese exhibition game number threes, there's some
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suggestion that another read, Eric Reid, could be facing a possible fine for
a hit that he put on BenWatson in an exhibition game this week.
You know, Grant, that theseguys are playing football, and it is
interesting I mentioned near the top thatyou know, there's a trend. I
don't know if it started in LosAngeles or Chicago or neither, but certainly
Sean McVey, Matt Naggie, nowFrank Reich in Indianapolis has joined the cruise
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and they won't be playing any startersin Week three. That used to be
so important, and yet now wesee some of these other teams with key
players out on the football field inweek three and taking these vicious hits.
You know, not only the playersthat are trying to absorb, but the
players that are audition them out.It continues to make you wonder why the
NFL insists on playing four preseason gameswhere clearly at least one, two or
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three of them have so little benefitfor him. Obviously, in the case
of Jordan Reid, we hope forthe best for him. You know,
at this point his career, though, Arthur, I mean, he has
spent probably as much time on thesideline's duty injury and on the injured list
as he has spent on the footballfield. And when you hear something as
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absurd as four or five or sixconcussions, if nothing else, common sense
suggests it may be time to startthinking about another professional, you would hope.
So it's it's truly terrifying. Iwas doing the math last night.
I was writing on this briefly readhas now missed thirty one of a possible
ninety six regular season games. Concussionshave been a part of it, but
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obviously he's had lower leg issues thatbelieve he had a shoulder at some point.
It is a long list of ailment. So we hope the best for
him personally as far as Washington isconcerned. The reason I kind of pivoted
there is I don't know how muchthe good vibes emanating from the Giants are
real. I get the Daniel Jonesexcitement. I don't know. I shouldn't
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say that they're not real. Ijust don't know how they're going to translate
to the regular season. But I'mconing in hub On Washington team that's going
to be bringing in the rear inthe NFC East that just looks ugly without
Jordan Read. Even with Jordan Read, that might have been the worst group
of pass catchers in the league.Now without him, I don't know where
case keenum and eventually Dwayne Haskins throwthe football. I like the rookie Terry
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McLaurin, but I mean, comeon, they're going to need more than
that. And then as much asI love what they do up front defense
that I have no idea what they'regoing to do in the secondary this year.
Yeah, I think we're together onthat. We'll get back to the
Cowboys after the break. But oneother note on the Redskins. They did
get a good piece of news inthis exhibition game. Darius Geis. You
know, I thought they drafted waytoo high, just based on my understanding
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of where the injury was, butcertainly was a first round talent going back
to his basically you know, thirdyear, sophomore year in school, had
a big game for him in thethird exhibition. I want to say forty
four yards on six or eight carries. He got the first six carries of
the game apparently looked very very good, including a couple of tough runs between
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the tackles, and would be quitea story because again, well it felt
like they drafted him too high.If they now end up with a legit,
you know, first round back andthe kid is healthy, would be
extremely happy for both Geis and andyou know, I have to compliment the
Redskins on that move. Yeah,no doubt about it. And of course,
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you know, an ap Geis tandemthis season could be interesting. It
could certainly be uh, you know, unrelenting on defenses with the way those
guys run. We'll just have towait and see. Of course, Geiss's
return after he tore the ACL Ibelieve on his first preseason carry last year,
it was also sports to you know, it was kind of symbolic,
and the fact that he did welland apparently escaped unscathed is promising. I
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just uh again, I mean,is Eric Flowers a starting offensive live and
for Washington. I don't know whatthe big picture plan is here for this
season, but yes, I'm happyfor Darius guys and a good start for
him as well. Welcome back everybody. The Pro Football Weekly NFL podcast.
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Arthur Arkish is here. I'm HubArkish, and we want to give our
thanks to our great sponsors who joinus every week and allow us to put
these podcasts together. Also our executiveproducer, Dan Mott, who handles all
of our audio and video work atPro Football Weekly and Shaw Media. He
does such an outstanding job for us, and as the guy who makes these
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podcasts go, we want to giveour thanks to the fellows that Humfrees McGee
for allowing us to use some oftheir great music as both our bumps in
and out our intro and outrobeds.Be sure and catch them. Actually,
depending when you're listening to this,I believe Saturday night in Indianapolis and ofttimes
found around Chicago. So thank youto everybody who helps us get this done.
(18:45):
Of course, most of all thanksto all of you for listening.
And Arthur, we promise we'd getback to the Cowboys contract silliness, But
before we do, one of thething I was thinking about before we went
to the break, talk about silliness. I don't know what well I do
I know the Fells need to playgames in Europe and Mexico and Canada,
and they're trying to expand their marketingbase. I don't think they're really serious
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about actually putting franchises there, althoughthey certainly could in Mexico City or Canada,
or at least might have thought aboutCanada until the Raiders and the Backers
went there this week. I mean, you know, my lord, they
ended up playing the game on aneighty yard field because of field conditions that
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it just wasn't ready. I mean, at some point it becomes kind of
comical some of the things that theleague is walking itself into these days.
I have to somebody had to knowbefore they know, at least went up
there to play this game this week, if not before they committed to it,
that this type of thing was anissue, and it was kind of
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the silliest looking thing I've ever seen. The NFL didn't realize the CFL plays
on one hundred and ten yard fields, so they weren't prepared for the hole
that was in the I believe northon zone where the original goalposts would be.
Of course, because it's a longerfield. Um it comical, I
guess because it's either laugh or cry. But for a league that wants to
hold players accountable for you know,silliness in some cases smoking some weed and
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states where it's legal, and thenjust for the league in the suits to
skate accountability on this. This isthe third time in the past three years
that they have had to audible atthe last minute. Remember they canceled the
Pro Football Hall of Fame game acouple of years ago over field conditions over
a poor paint job actually that hadaffected the safety or or what they had
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deemed safe playing surface. And thenlast year, of course, the Chiefs
and Rams set to meet at EstadioEsteca in Mexico City in November, except
for apparently it was a Shakira concertthe week before that made that that playing
surface so bad that they had tomove the game a week or two in
advance out to Los Angeles. SoI just think it's ridiculous. And again,
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let's remind everyone that the NFL's biggestsupposed directive right now is player safety,
and yet these things are cropping up. It's so embarrassing. It's the
most professional or the most powerful sportsleague in the world, and yet they
have these just absolutely embarrassing instances thatare always self inflicted. It seems,
well, yeah, and you knowwhat, I could argue the Hall of
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Fame game a couple of years ago. You could give them a pass on
that because it was at the endof a complete reconstruction of that field.
It was going to be the introductorygame played on that field after it had
been rebuilt. So, okay,that stuff happens. You go to Mexico
City last last year, New Shakirafans could tear up a football field like
they did, you know. So, I mean, again, the natural
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causes on natural turf, that's onething. But for this to be in
the football business and not realize thedifference between the two games and have the
problem that they had here, thismakes no sense whatsoever. And it's more
than just being embarrassed. Somebody shouldbe fired over this because it's not fair
to the teams, to their fans, to the people watching on television.
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You know. And maybe the TVwas free, but the rest of it
people pay a lot of money for. And it's just pretty inexcusable. But
is what it is. They gotthrough it, I think relatively healthy.
Let's get to the Cowboys situation andthe Edward Or Report on a contract offer.
My guess is that if Zeke whoannoyed Zeke Elliott and his agent David
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Arseneau, imagine what offering him adeal that pays him less than Todd Gurley
is going to do. So,if in fact this is correct, A
again, why the Cowboys are evendoing it as a bit of a mystery
to me. I guess it probablyis because of Jerry jones deep fondness for
Ezekiel Elliott. We do know thathe cares very much about the young man.
He also knows that Elliot is criticalto the success of his football team.
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But if he gives him that kindof contract, it is going to
create no end of difficulty for themand getting Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper and
Jaylon Smith and Byron Jones done.And so I think, ay, it
is going to be probably have theopposite effect of what they would like.
Is probably gonna anger Elliott more thanit's gonna make him happy. And beyond
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that, I just I don't seeit moving the needle at all. But
who knows, you know, maybethey'll counter and we'll see where they end
up, right, I mean,how I guess Hi, Well, they
did get Jalen Smith done earlier thisweek. I'm sure you saw. And
no, it was a props tothe Cowboys, who we give a hard
enough time on this show, andI feel it is often well deserved.
But I thought that was so coolto get Smith's deal done a year early.
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Of course, Smith suffers the devastatingneandre at the Fiesta Bowl. He
has come all the way back,something no one predicted. The former I
think thirty fifth overall pick in thedraft could do, and for him to
get rewarded, for them to findI found a happy medium, a deal
that looks like it can work forboth the team and the linebacker he gets.
I think thirty five million, Nah, maybe not quite, maybe between
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thirty and thirty five million guaranteed.I think it worked out to like two
years of salary as one of thehigher paid linebackers in the league. Not
crazy CJ. Mosley money, butup there. So anyway, so Smith
is done, but you're absolutely right. Of course, they still have to
get Prescott and Cooper done. Someone'sgoing to be the odd man out here.
We have long thought that should beEzekiel Elliott, just because the way
he's handled or failed to handle hisbusiness off the field. And that's where
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I come full circle with Todd Gurleywhat issues says he had off the field.
I mean, that's why I guessI could understand pegging Elliott in between
Gurley, who has been just adominant force anytime he's been between the white
lines, and then between Levion Belle, who of course takes a year off,
leaves fourteen million on the table,and has had a couple issues off
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the field. So to me,it seemed like a deal, an offer,
excuse me, that could work forboth sides. But it sounds like
you don't see it that way.Well, no, I mean, I'm
not judging the value of the offerthat's above my pay Grin, I'm not
saying. I'm saying I don't thinkZeke Elliot should get anything, so they
made him as fine. What I'mgetting at, though, is that you
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got to know the situation you're dealingwith. You got to realize how silly
and even immature you could say.Elliott and his agent have been over this
whole thing. And I just thinkit's predictable to tell him we want to
pay you less than Todd is goingto have a bad reaction. Now maybe
I'm wrong. We'll see what happens. As far as what he's worth again,
I wouldn't offer him anything. I'dtell him to stay home if he
wants to, or else get backin and play under the contract that you
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signed, which has two years runningon it, which is worth a fortune
because you were the fourth overall pickin the draft to begin with. So
you know, I'm not. Iwas doing the Packers pregame the other night
for their exhibition game, and Ihad to stop and laugh. I said,
my god, this is the secondweek in a row. I'm defending
Jerry Jones, you know, which, which never happens because I'm not a
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Jerry Jones fan. But in thiscase, I just think, you know,
I understand why the Cowboys would makethat offer. I'm just telling you
I would bet anything that's going toget a real negative response from Elliot's camp
camp. Can the Cowboys successfully defendtheir NFC East title without Zeke Elliott?
I don't know. I believe you'repicking Eagles in that division, So maybe,
rather than phrasing it that way,can the Cowboys go out and win
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nine or ten games without Zie Elliottthis year? I don't think so.
I know that the defense has beenvery, very good, but it is
not a uber talented group that isgoing to dominate week in and week out
the way the Rams or the Bearsor even a couple other teams might.
I think that Rod Marinelli does anincredible job with it. I don't know.
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You know that you can count onto Marcus Lawrence every week. He's
a guy who shows up often,but not consistently, you know, And
they've got some other issues that they'vegot to fix, particularly on that defensive
line where I think they need moredepth. And then you look at the
offense. I mean, they strugglewith Zeke Elliott at times. You know
what they're gonna do without um,I don't know. I think that Dak
Prescott is probably believe one of thesomewhat more overrated quarterbacks in the NFL.
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And you know, well, yousaw what happened when Elliott, you know,
served the six game suspension. Youknow, it's just it's not the
same group without him. So certainly, you know, Jones finds himself between
a rock and a hard place.But you've got to be looking at a
culture in the overall organization, notjust the next ten to sixteen weeks.
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I think there's one organization we knowis not that concerned about culture though.
It's probably the Cowboys. And I'mjust having fun. I know exactly what
you mean, and I don't reallyhave a great answer here, because,
as you said, I mean,I think we saw this film before two
years ago when Zeke was suspended andDak and that team went off a cliff.
But at the same time, Imean, we're at a day and
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age in the NFL where everyone claimsrunning backs are replaceable, even the best
ones. The Cowboys went and drafteda couple, well, one really exciting
prospect. I believe in Tony Pollard, the other half of that dynamic Memphis
backfield with Darrell Henderson last year,and he is a apparently been turning heads
in camp. I haven't heard asmuch about Mike Webber out of Ohio State.
So yeah, they'd be green,that's for sure. But would they
(28:07):
rather be green than hand out moregreen than they're comfortable with to someone who
has not given them a lot ofreason to be comfortable with what he's doing
when he is not on the footballfield. Yeah, A couple thoughts there.
Mike Webber is a phenomenal athlete whomay be an athlete without a position.
He's not a natural running back,so it'll be interested to see how
he does in that spot. Iwouldn't be stunned if he ends up at
(28:30):
receiver before his career is over.And again, we're agreeing on the Cowboys,
not disagreeing, aren'thur It is Jerryjones respect and concern for culture that
has allowed him to win. Ibelieve it's one playoff game in the last
twenty five years, and so youknow, I mean, i may defend
him two weeks in a row,but I'm not going to pretend I'm a
big fan, so you know,you know, we'll see what happens.
(28:52):
I mean, they're They're a goodfootball team, there's no question about that.
I am, you know, Ithink the more interesting conversation. I
have no idea what to make aJason Gearhart at this point. He's the
nicest guy I've ever met, andI root for him because he really is
a good person. But I getthe feeling that he has survived this long
because he has no issues at cavingto Jones whenever Jones wants to walk all
(29:14):
over him, and that is ahard thing to respect in an NFL head
coach. Yeah, no doubt aboutit. I'm fascinated with the Cowboys.
I can't wait to see Collen Mooreas a rookie play caller. I can't
wait to see potentially how this teamtries to weather a Zeke absence again.
So there's always something it's going totalk about with the Cowboys. We didn't
mention Byron Jones, another guy whois going to be due for a huge
(29:37):
deal. So they have got alot of I don't know, tricky terrain
to try and navigate on the capcap constraint side, and we'll see what
becomes of it. Hub, Iknow we got to get out of here
soon, but we got a coupleother big stories. You've got thoughts on
Cam Newton, injured in his preseasondebut Thursday night, Panthers say they're cautiously
(29:59):
optimistic that Newton, who left thefield in a walking boot, will be
back by week one. We alsohaven't hit on Andrew Luck a lot,
and week one is getting a lotcloser without a lot more clarity on whether
the Colts will have their franchise quarterbackbehind center again. Yeah, no one
has hit on Andrew Luck a lot, because he's literally had three practices since
last season ended. We're not talkingabout just training camp. We're talking about
(30:22):
all summer. We'll get to Luckin just a moment. On the Cam
Newton front, the word on Fridaymorning was that the Panthers are cautiously optimistic.
They dodged a bullet that was originallyconcerned that it was a high ankle
sprain. They're now saying it isa midfoot issue. Now what I'd be
worried about is midfoot the top ofthe foot. That's the dreaded list,
Frank, But they're not suggesting thatit's that at all either. They feel
(30:45):
that both the rehabilitated shoulder and theleg should be good to go in two
weeks. So we will keep aneye on that story. I think it's
really almost more interesting to me arethere that they're comfortable and with his shoulder
rehab to think that he can beready and be close to being Cam Newton
(31:06):
on week one, and so that'sone that we will, you know,
certainly keep an eye on. Ithink the Luck situation is more concerning because
since training camp begun or began,the cults have not come out with their
third new explanation of what they thinkthe injury is. And this is something
(31:26):
that and I'm not being critical ofthe Cults medical staff at all. I
don't even know who's on it,but this is strange to me. I
don't remember a situation like this wherethey've gone through the entire summer and you
know, sometimes there are injuries thatare tough to rehab, but they can't
seem to agree on what this injuryis. And so while I'm sure that
they're thrilled that it's a leg andnot a shoulder, you know, which
(31:48):
costs him a year and a half, beyond that, they can't be too
happy about anything that's going on thereright now, right And you know,
obviously Colts fans feel like they wereduped once before or by that organization,
just in regard to the way theyexplained to Andrew Luck's you know, shoulder
injury that ended up costing them awhole season two years ago. I think
(32:09):
that was the year before Ballard gotthere. I'm not trying to, you
know, throw him under the busor anything like that, but I just
think the point is that Colts fanshave reason to be concerned certainly, and
it's worth mentioning. I mean,Andrew Luck and Cam Newton both big quarterbacks,
big strong quarterbacks who rely a loton their mobility and you know,
(32:30):
inability to to kind of move aroundthe pocket, and they're both dealing with
foot issues and it can't be good. Even as little as we know right
now, it certainly seems like thepin the signs are starting to point a
little more strongly towards Jacoby Brissette inWeek one when the Colts played the Chargers,
and hey, you could do alot worse than Jacoby Brissette. I
think with he and Chad Kelly,the Colts actually have one of the more
(32:52):
interesting, uh you know, moretalented actually backup situations in the league.
But it's obviously a long drop offfrom Andrew Luck, who was just so
great in his return last season.Yeah, I mean, the Colts go
from being a potential AFC contender toand also ran in the AFC South without
Andrew Luck. I firmly believe that, Yes, Chris Ballard has done a
(33:13):
wonderful job rebuilding that team they've got. They've gone from you know, perennial
one, perennially one of the worstoffensive lines in football to argue we're the
best offensive line in football. They'veadded some nice pieces on that defense,
but they are still not deep enoughon the defensive line or even at running
back or wide receiver to argue that, you know, this is a playoff
(33:35):
team without Andrew Luck pulling the trigger. So now again, hey ho,
but you'll find this interesting. Excuseme for cutting me off the director of
sports performance with the Colts. Ibet it's jocking your memory right now.
Rusty Jones, obviously it was inChicago forever. I know you know him.
Well. Does that make you moreor less concerned that he's part of
the team that's struggling to identify what'sup with Andrew Luck? I'm guessing more
(33:57):
so because of how highly you feelabout Russ and know all the great work
he has done in three decades inthe NFL. Yeah, Rusty is one
of the great strength and conditioning coachesin the history of the league, and
the list of Hall of famers whoswear by him as legion, and so
you know he will do a greatjob with Luck. But this gets to
the heart of what I was talkingabout. He's got to know what he's
(34:19):
rehabbing first. So that's where,yeah, this concern comes in with the
doctors is that they can't seem toagree on what it is when it comes
to a avoiding injury because of strengthand conditioning, and then to rehabilitating injuries
once they occur. There's nobody betterthan Rusty Jones. Now, Rusty,
I believe is also not full timethere though I think it's kind of a
(34:40):
consulting almost front office role. Iknow he's working with a staff. Don't
quote me on that. We'll checkthat and I'll have more details next week.
But yeah, I mean, you'vegot the best in the business to
help you if you know what you'reworking on. And everything I'm hearing is
that Ballard and Reicher are cautiously optimistic. You know. The good news about
(35:00):
Andrew luck as if they can getthe legs sound. He's not a guy
who needs a ton of practice toget out there and be himself. He
has demonstrated that in the past.So it will be interesting to watch that
story over the next ten days aswe get to that first Wednesday practice before
the regular season opener. So weunfortunately are out of time here, but
(35:22):
we want to thank you all somuch for joining us. We really do
appreciate and getting a visit with youevery week. Again, our thanks to
our sponsors of course, to ourexecutive producer, Damn Not, the guys
from Humphrey's McGee Arthur, thank youeverybody. Have a great week. And
you know what, guys, Ienjoy these podcasts whenever we do them,
but it's a lot more fun whenthey're playing real football. And we're only
(35:42):
about two weeks away, so wewill be back with our final exhibition season
podcast next week. Make sure yougo to Pro Football Weekly dot com for
information on how to get a subscriptionto our PF podcasts. You want the
Pro Football with the NFL podcast andPro Football with the Chicago as well.
We will talk to you all againnext week.
Hi, everybody. Welcome to thisweek's edition of our Pro Football Weekly NFL
podcast. I am Hub Arkers,the executive editor and general manager at Pro
Football Weekly, and I am joinedas I am most weeks almost every week
by our managing editor, Arthur Arkish, and we're getting close to it,
Arthur. As we record on Friday, we are literally eight days away from
(00:34):
the NFL's final cutdown to form thethirty two rosters for the coming season.
Teams playing the third exhibition game inmost cases during the course of this week.
It used to be really significant.There is a growing trend around the
league of teams that don't play guyseven an exhibition number three. But at
the end of the day, weare inside of two weeks to the opener
(00:57):
on Thursday night in Chicago, andnot a ton of news around the NFL,
but certainly some interesting stories. AndI guess we have to go back
to Oakland and talk about Antonio Brownand figure out what he's doing now,
because he was with the team fortheir exhibition game in Canada this week,
but also the day before filed anew appeal with the NFL over his helmet,
(01:22):
and that was immediately after both generalmanager Mike Mayock and head coach John
Bruten came out and said, enoughis enough. Either you're rolling with us
or you're not. So really hardto get our arms around this point.
What's going on out there? Itis, but it sounds like they finally
stabilized the situation just a tad bit. I know that Antonio Brown was scheduled
(01:45):
to have another grievance with the NFLregarding his desire to wear one of the
band helmets, and I believe sincethen they found one that can work for
him. He's been practicing in it, and you know, according to you
know what we've been able to seeon Twitter a little bit, we've been
able to gather seems okay, seemspast the foot issue. So now we
(02:06):
can just wait and you know,wait on the next issue with Antonio Brown
and the Raiders to pop up.I can't imagine it'll be too long.
No, it probably won't be.You know. My understanding is that the
NFL has already said no to whathe has basing his second appeal on,
even though he has found this newer, old model of the helmet. And
I think it's got to be frustratingto certainly to mayok. I know it
(02:30):
is, and probably to Gruden too, that even after they've asked him to
stop that, he's gone out andfiled this whateverever his third or fourth appeal.
Now, yeah, but you kindof reap what you sew, right,
I mean, everyone else saw thiscoming in March when Oakland made just
the ridiculous risk to do this,not so much the draft compensation but the
(02:53):
thirty million in new guaranteed paper.So whether it's going to be the train
wreck we can't our eyes off,or you know, I'm hoping we're going
to see vintage Antonio Brown again,as unlikely as that feels, how we'll
be monitoring it for sure. Iknow you're not much of a Hard Knocks
fan, so I've been watching itso you don't have to, And all
(03:14):
I can say is it's I've beenreally disappointed. I just, uh,
I can't imagine how you could seeeverything going on in Oakland and all the
opportunities and somehow make this, uh, this season boring. But that's kind
of how I would describe it.And I'm not as big a Frank Caliendo
fan as others. I guess Ididn't even get a much of a kick
out of the John Gruden impression thatstarted last week. So I did like
(03:36):
the Darren Walls story. It's areally cool one. He being in recovery
and apparently having a great camp andhaving an opportunity to be a real part
of this offense. So I enjoyedthat. But it's just been far too
much Antonio Brown, and I'm stillnot sure they've really gotten to the core
of just how I don't know,volatile, just how turbulent things have been
(04:00):
over the past month to begin hisRaider's career. Yeah, I think,
just to be clear, for allof our listeners, nobody needs somebody else
to watch Hard Knocks, so theydon't have to. I personally object to
the show. I don't watch itfor reasons that I've discussed more than I
care to anymore. And you know, for those folks who enjoy it,
good for you. I'm not suggestingyou shouldn't. I'm not sure that it
(04:23):
helps anybody in regards to building afootball team. In a matter of fact,
i'm pretty sure it doesn't. Butthat's the NFL's decision to market itself
and make money in the way itchooses to, so we can move on.
From that, you know you're talkingto a guy who if the show
has branded reality TV, it's animmediate nonstarter for me because I've never seen
anything less real in my life thanreality TV. But enough on Hard Knocks
(04:47):
and probably enough on the Raiders forthe moment, especially for those people who
are watching the show. Another storythat is brewing and is kind of interesting
to me anyway. A chance towatch and actually go back and study the
Bears Giants preseason game last week,in part because we do a little lecture
(05:08):
work on the Bears being based inChicago, and came away very impressed with
Daniel Jones. And Jones played wellagain this week and exhibition game number three.
He is not going to be theopening day starter. Eli Manning is.
But for all the debate and allthe discussion and all the craft that
Dave Geelman and the Giants took fordrafting Jones at number six, and that
(05:32):
may never go away because some peoplewill always believe, I'm probably one of
them, that he would have beenavailable for him at seventeen. The real
question is that they have their quarterbackof the future, and this is a
young man who's having a pretty impressiveexhibition season for himself. Yeah, he
is actually better Thursday night than hewas last weekend against the Bears, when
(05:53):
he threw a beautiful touchdown in anotherreally good deep completion a couple of them
actually against the Bears second string defense, but also struggled a little bit with
ball security, lost a couple offumbles. I guess he lost one fumble,
but did put it on the grounda few times, so and even
cleaner outing last night. The guywas twenty five or thirty. Well,
(06:13):
now that's his whole preseason line.He's now got two tds and zero interceptions,
nine of eleven last night for onehundred and forty one yards. So
look, I mean, I don'tknow what's not to like thus far,
but we can't kind of view Jonesthrough a different preseason lens than we're viewing
everyone else. Obviously, you'd rathersee him not struggle, not look like
the game. You know, it'stoo big for him, and I don't
(06:34):
think that has been the case.But it'll be a while yet because the
way the Giants are choosing to handlethis thing, and because Eli Manning has
been you know, efficient in thepreseason as well. Until we know whether
this pick was the right one ornot, but the very very early return
certainly are encouraging, you know what. I find fascinating by it, though,
(06:56):
Arthur, And we have to remember, I'm trying to call at what
point Getleman first left the Giants organization, but I'm reasonably sure he was there.
I want to say it was inO four when they drafted Eli Manning.
And the reason I mentioned it isbecause as I watched Daniel Jones,
you know, and I try andfind a cop for him amongst excellent NFL
(07:17):
quarterbacks, the first guy that comesto mind is Eli Manning. That's kind
of who he reminds me of.Right now, I kind of agree.
I mean, Jones is way moreathletic than Eli Manning. But yeah,
in terms of, you know,kind of being I don't know, relatively
accurate. I mean, I'm notsure if I buy that com pub only
because Jones is more touted for hisaccuracy that's never really been Eli's strength.
(07:42):
Jones is more tided for his decisionmaking, which has also never really been
Eli's strength. But in terms ofthe intangibles that we've been hearing all about,
clearly they're both smart guys who cancommand a locker room and certainly,
you know, learn an offensive playbook, and it's been positive in that regard
To me, I don't know stylistically, I actually think they're a bit different.
(08:03):
Yeah, I would just suggest goback and take a look at some
tape of Eli, you know,seventeen years ago. I mean, we're
comparing Jones to today's Eli Manning.Eli was not a bad athlete coming out
of school, and I disagree thataccuracy has been a problem. Yeah,
he's at times throwing the ball intosome spots you kind of wish he hasn't
interceptions of dodging throughout his career.But I think accuracy has always been one
(08:26):
of Eli's strength. And when Isee Jones standing in the pocket, he
just looks very much to me likeEli kind of surveying the football field.
So, you know, hub,can I just enterject quickly? Eli Manning's
career completion percentage is sixty point three, so I think Drew Brees is closer
to seventy. I don't know howwe can say accuracy has been one of
his strengths, but that's we'll agreeto disagree on this one. It sounds
(08:48):
like, yeah, what we cansay it because I don't know that accuracy
is necessarily the main component completion percentage. It has a lot to do with
the offense that you're running, thethrows, you're trying to make a lot
of the things you're trying to do. But at the end of the day,
it's irrelevant. Nobody's saying that he'san Eli Manning clone. I'm just
saying when I look at and reallyI wasn't talking so much about style or
football. I was talking about personalityand leadership and the way he carries himself
(09:11):
carries himself. And that's really what'smade Eli part of the Hall of Fame
conversation that in the two rings,because certainly with his numbers, with his
passing numbers, you wouldn't be talkingabout him as an elite quarterback. And
so that's kind of the comparison Isee. I don't know that Jones will
ever pile up great numbers either,but he just kind of reminds me of
(09:33):
Eli and the way he carries himself, the way he's handling this situation,
and the way he looks to mewhen he's standing back there in the pocket.
Yeah, I get that part forsure. The intangibles without question.
Hub, Just to to circle backon one thing you had said, Dave
Gettelman, you're absolutely right. Hewas the pro personnel director from ninety nine
to twenty eleven, so yeah,he was there more on the pro personnel
(09:54):
side, but of course there whenEli arrived. What in two thousand and
three, I want to say,so, yeah, a two thousand and
four excuse me, but a goodstart, and you know, maybe a
chance for some redemption, not theguttleman necessarily needs it, but obviously he's
been getting dragged all offseason, andhey, frankly, so has Daniel Jones.
I mean, he got booed atthe whatever it was, a Mets
(10:16):
or Yankees game shortly after getting drafted. He's got Baker Mayfield all up in
his business as recently as last week. So he has not deserved the wrath
that he has received in this wholething. It wasn't his apology to make
that he was drafted sixth. Overall, he should be excited about it,
and it kind of it frankly makeshim an easy guy to root for,
just because of the unfortunate way he'ssort of been handled early on or the
(10:39):
way he's been received very early on. Yeah, I mean I couldn't agree
more. I mean that the kiddoesn't deserve any of this, and that's
where my Eli comp comes from,and that Eli's taking crap his entire career
as well is right on some partjust for being Peyton's little brother, and
the way that Jones has handled asreally unflappable, really seeming decision most of
(11:00):
the time, he's going about hisbusiness and taking care of things. Did
did you see the photo last nightof the media swarm around Daniel Jones and
then right next to the locker nextto him is Eli Manning putting his shoes
on with just I mean, he'sbasically getting run over by the New York
media, but he doesn't have oneguy. It was just a very poignant
(11:24):
picture. I believe it was TomRock on Twitter of Newsday who first posted
it, but it's just it wasa fascinating image coming off last night's game,
Thursday night's game. Yeah, Ihaven't seen it, will certainly take
a look for it. You know, it's the reality of professional sports.
I don't care who you're talking about. Careers begin, careers end. A
lot of guys get caught in themiddle. But this particular case, Eli
(11:46):
would probably be the first one totell you that that he knows the end
is near in New York, hasreally suspected it the last couple of years.
And I'm just impressed by the waythese two are handling it and the
way they're going about it. AndI think Shermer is to be credited as
well as far as Dave Getleman.He oftentimes is his own worst enemy with
the things he says that causes alot of the conversation around him. But
(12:11):
it'll be interesting to watch. Idon't think the Giants are as bad a
football team as people have made themout to be. A lot of people
have them locked in the last placein the NFC East. I probably will
not be picking them there. Goback and take a look at how they
were playing last four or five sixweeks of last season, before the Daniel
Jones stuff even came about, andagain it'll be Eli under center at least
(12:31):
early in the season. So tome, they've just been a very interesting
team to watch this preseason. AndI'll tell you what, we should stick
with the NFC East narrative here becausea couple other interests. I mean,
there's no shortage of intrigued with what'sgoing on with the Dallas Cowboys, including
a recent report from ad Worder backat ESPN. Congratulations add about the most
(12:52):
recent contract offer coming from the Cowboys, readying to make Ezekiel Elliott the second
high it's paid running back in theNFL, behind only Todd Gurley. We
should definitely discuss that. I'm curiousto get your thoughts. And then also
a really unfortunate development in Washington,if not surprising, with Jordan Read being
(13:13):
evaluated last Nate for yet another concussion. It was a ridiculously egregious hit by
Falcon safety Kian O'Neil. But thestory here is, if it is confirmed,
it would be at least Jordan Readsix reported concussion during his football career.
And just you know, what elsecan you say about Jordan Reid's football
career. It's it's been intermixed,unfortunately not often enough with those flashes of
(13:35):
brilliance and unfortunately a lot more sowith the injuries, including the brain injuries.
Yeah, well, let's start thereand then we'll come back to the
Cowboys, because quite frankly, I'mstunned the Cowboys are offering zeke a contract
at all based on the status ofhis rookie deal on where they're at with
other issues. We'll get to thatin a minute. Also, not the
only controversial'll hit this week, andthese exhibition game number threes, there's some
(14:00):
suggestion that another read, Eric Reid, could be facing a possible fine for
a hit that he put on BenWatson in an exhibition game this week.
You know, Grant, that theseguys are playing football, and it is
interesting I mentioned near the top thatyou know, there's a trend. I
don't know if it started in LosAngeles or Chicago or neither, but certainly
Sean McVey, Matt Naggie, nowFrank Reich in Indianapolis has joined the cruise
(14:24):
and they won't be playing any startersin Week three. That used to be
so important, and yet now wesee some of these other teams with key
players out on the football field inweek three and taking these vicious hits.
You know, not only the playersthat are trying to absorb, but the
players that are audition them out.It continues to make you wonder why the
NFL insists on playing four preseason gameswhere clearly at least one, two or
(14:48):
three of them have so little benefitfor him. Obviously, in the case
of Jordan Reid, we hope forthe best for him. You know,
at this point his career, though, Arthur, I mean, he has
spent probably as much time on thesideline's duty injury and on the injured list
as he has spent on the footballfield. And when you hear something as
(15:11):
absurd as four or five or sixconcussions, if nothing else, common sense
suggests it may be time to startthinking about another professional, you would hope.
So it's it's truly terrifying. Iwas doing the math last night.
I was writing on this briefly readhas now missed thirty one of a possible
ninety six regular season games. Concussionshave been a part of it, but
(15:31):
obviously he's had lower leg issues thatbelieve he had a shoulder at some point.
It is a long list of ailment. So we hope the best for
him personally as far as Washington isconcerned. The reason I kind of pivoted
there is I don't know how muchthe good vibes emanating from the Giants are
real. I get the Daniel Jonesexcitement. I don't know. I shouldn't
(15:52):
say that they're not real. Ijust don't know how they're going to translate
to the regular season. But I'mconing in hub On Washington team that's going
to be bringing in the rear inthe NFC East that just looks ugly without
Jordan Read. Even with Jordan Read, that might have been the worst group
of pass catchers in the league.Now without him, I don't know where
case keenum and eventually Dwayne Haskins throwthe football. I like the rookie Terry
(16:14):
McLaurin, but I mean, comeon, they're going to need more than
that. And then as much asI love what they do up front defense
that I have no idea what they'regoing to do in the secondary this year.
Yeah, I think we're together onthat. We'll get back to the
Cowboys after the break. But oneother note on the Redskins. They did
get a good piece of news inthis exhibition game. Darius Geis. You
know, I thought they drafted waytoo high, just based on my understanding
(16:37):
of where the injury was, butcertainly was a first round talent going back
to his basically you know, thirdyear, sophomore year in school, had
a big game for him in thethird exhibition. I want to say forty
four yards on six or eight carries. He got the first six carries of
the game apparently looked very very good, including a couple of tough runs between
(16:57):
the tackles, and would be quitea story because again, well it felt
like they drafted him too high.If they now end up with a legit,
you know, first round back andthe kid is healthy, would be
extremely happy for both Geis and andyou know, I have to compliment the
Redskins on that move. Yeah,no doubt about it. And of course,
(17:18):
you know, an ap Geis tandemthis season could be interesting. It
could certainly be uh, you know, unrelenting on defenses with the way those
guys run. We'll just have towait and see. Of course, Geiss's
return after he tore the ACL Ibelieve on his first preseason carry last year,
it was also sports to you know, it was kind of symbolic,
and the fact that he did welland apparently escaped unscathed is promising. I
(17:41):
just uh again, I mean,is Eric Flowers a starting offensive live and
for Washington. I don't know whatthe big picture plan is here for this
season, but yes, I'm happyfor Darius guys and a good start for
him as well. Welcome back everybody. The Pro Football Weekly NFL podcast.
(18:03):
Arthur Arkish is here. I'm HubArkish, and we want to give our
thanks to our great sponsors who joinus every week and allow us to put
these podcasts together. Also our executiveproducer, Dan Mott, who handles all
of our audio and video work atPro Football Weekly and Shaw Media. He
does such an outstanding job for us, and as the guy who makes these
(18:23):
podcasts go, we want to giveour thanks to the fellows that Humfrees McGee
for allowing us to use some oftheir great music as both our bumps in
and out our intro and outrobeds.Be sure and catch them. Actually,
depending when you're listening to this,I believe Saturday night in Indianapolis and ofttimes
found around Chicago. So thank youto everybody who helps us get this done.
(18:45):
Of course, most of all thanksto all of you for listening.
And Arthur, we promise we'd getback to the Cowboys contract silliness, But
before we do, one of thething I was thinking about before we went
to the break, talk about silliness. I don't know what well I do
I know the Fells need to playgames in Europe and Mexico and Canada,
and they're trying to expand their marketingbase. I don't think they're really serious
(19:06):
about actually putting franchises there, althoughthey certainly could in Mexico City or Canada,
or at least might have thought aboutCanada until the Raiders and the Backers
went there this week. I mean, you know, my lord, they
ended up playing the game on aneighty yard field because of field conditions that
(19:26):
it just wasn't ready. I mean, at some point it becomes kind of
comical some of the things that theleague is walking itself into these days.
I have to somebody had to knowbefore they know, at least went up
there to play this game this week, if not before they committed to it,
that this type of thing was anissue, and it was kind of
(19:48):
the silliest looking thing I've ever seen. The NFL didn't realize the CFL plays
on one hundred and ten yard fields, so they weren't prepared for the hole
that was in the I believe northon zone where the original goalposts would be.
Of course, because it's a longerfield. Um it comical, I
guess because it's either laugh or cry. But for a league that wants to
hold players accountable for you know,silliness in some cases smoking some weed and
(20:15):
states where it's legal, and thenjust for the league in the suits to
skate accountability on this. This isthe third time in the past three years
that they have had to audible atthe last minute. Remember they canceled the
Pro Football Hall of Fame game acouple of years ago over field conditions over
a poor paint job actually that hadaffected the safety or or what they had
(20:38):
deemed safe playing surface. And thenlast year, of course, the Chiefs
and Rams set to meet at EstadioEsteca in Mexico City in November, except
for apparently it was a Shakira concertthe week before that made that that playing
surface so bad that they had tomove the game a week or two in
advance out to Los Angeles. SoI just think it's ridiculous. And again,
(21:00):
let's remind everyone that the NFL's biggestsupposed directive right now is player safety,
and yet these things are cropping up. It's so embarrassing. It's the
most professional or the most powerful sportsleague in the world, and yet they
have these just absolutely embarrassing instances thatare always self inflicted. It seems,
well, yeah, and you knowwhat, I could argue the Hall of
(21:22):
Fame game a couple of years ago. You could give them a pass on
that because it was at the endof a complete reconstruction of that field.
It was going to be the introductorygame played on that field after it had
been rebuilt. So, okay,that stuff happens. You go to Mexico
City last last year, New Shakirafans could tear up a football field like
they did, you know. So, I mean, again, the natural
(21:44):
causes on natural turf, that's onething. But for this to be in
the football business and not realize thedifference between the two games and have the
problem that they had here, thismakes no sense whatsoever. And it's more
than just being embarrassed. Somebody shouldbe fired over this because it's not fair
to the teams, to their fans, to the people watching on television.
(22:06):
You know. And maybe the TVwas free, but the rest of it
people pay a lot of money for. And it's just pretty inexcusable. But
is what it is. They gotthrough it, I think relatively healthy.
Let's get to the Cowboys situation andthe Edward Or Report on a contract offer.
My guess is that if Zeke whoannoyed Zeke Elliott and his agent David
(22:30):
Arseneau, imagine what offering him adeal that pays him less than Todd Gurley
is going to do. So,if in fact this is correct, A
again, why the Cowboys are evendoing it as a bit of a mystery
to me. I guess it probablyis because of Jerry jones deep fondness for
Ezekiel Elliott. We do know thathe cares very much about the young man.
He also knows that Elliot is criticalto the success of his football team.
(22:53):
But if he gives him that kindof contract, it is going to
create no end of difficulty for themand getting Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper and
Jaylon Smith and Byron Jones done.And so I think, ay, it
is going to be probably have theopposite effect of what they would like.
Is probably gonna anger Elliott more thanit's gonna make him happy. And beyond
(23:15):
that, I just I don't seeit moving the needle at all. But
who knows, you know, maybethey'll counter and we'll see where they end
up, right, I mean,how I guess Hi, Well, they
did get Jalen Smith done earlier thisweek. I'm sure you saw. And
no, it was a props tothe Cowboys, who we give a hard
enough time on this show, andI feel it is often well deserved.
But I thought that was so coolto get Smith's deal done a year early.
(23:37):
Of course, Smith suffers the devastatingneandre at the Fiesta Bowl. He
has come all the way back,something no one predicted. The former I
think thirty fifth overall pick in thedraft could do, and for him to
get rewarded, for them to findI found a happy medium, a deal
that looks like it can work forboth the team and the linebacker he gets.
I think thirty five million, Nah, maybe not quite, maybe between
(24:00):
thirty and thirty five million guaranteed.I think it worked out to like two
years of salary as one of thehigher paid linebackers in the league. Not
crazy CJ. Mosley money, butup there. So anyway, so Smith
is done, but you're absolutely right. Of course, they still have to
get Prescott and Cooper done. Someone'sgoing to be the odd man out here.
We have long thought that should beEzekiel Elliott, just because the way
he's handled or failed to handle hisbusiness off the field. And that's where
(24:23):
I come full circle with Todd Gurleywhat issues says he had off the field.
I mean, that's why I guessI could understand pegging Elliott in between
Gurley, who has been just adominant force anytime he's been between the white
lines, and then between Levion Belle, who of course takes a year off,
leaves fourteen million on the table,and has had a couple issues off
(24:45):
the field. So to me,it seemed like a deal, an offer,
excuse me, that could work forboth sides. But it sounds like
you don't see it that way.Well, no, I mean, I'm
not judging the value of the offerthat's above my pay Grin, I'm not
saying. I'm saying I don't thinkZeke Elliot should get anything, so they
made him as fine. What I'mgetting at, though, is that you
(25:07):
got to know the situation you're dealingwith. You got to realize how silly
and even immature you could say.Elliott and his agent have been over this
whole thing. And I just thinkit's predictable to tell him we want to
pay you less than Todd is goingto have a bad reaction. Now maybe
I'm wrong. We'll see what happens. As far as what he's worth again,
I wouldn't offer him anything. I'dtell him to stay home if he
wants to, or else get backin and play under the contract that you
(25:30):
signed, which has two years runningon it, which is worth a fortune
because you were the fourth overall pickin the draft to begin with. So
you know, I'm not. Iwas doing the Packers pregame the other night
for their exhibition game, and Ihad to stop and laugh. I said,
my god, this is the secondweek in a row. I'm defending
Jerry Jones, you know, which, which never happens because I'm not a
(25:51):
Jerry Jones fan. But in thiscase, I just think, you know,
I understand why the Cowboys would makethat offer. I'm just telling you
I would bet anything that's going toget a real negative response from Elliot's camp
camp. Can the Cowboys successfully defendtheir NFC East title without Zeke Elliott?
I don't know. I believe you'repicking Eagles in that division, So maybe,
rather than phrasing it that way,can the Cowboys go out and win
(26:14):
nine or ten games without Zie Elliottthis year? I don't think so.
I know that the defense has beenvery, very good, but it is
not a uber talented group that isgoing to dominate week in and week out
the way the Rams or the Bearsor even a couple other teams might.
I think that Rod Marinelli does anincredible job with it. I don't know.
(26:37):
You know that you can count onto Marcus Lawrence every week. He's
a guy who shows up often,but not consistently, you know, And
they've got some other issues that they'vegot to fix, particularly on that defensive
line where I think they need moredepth. And then you look at the
offense. I mean, they strugglewith Zeke Elliott at times. You know
what they're gonna do without um,I don't know. I think that Dak
Prescott is probably believe one of thesomewhat more overrated quarterbacks in the NFL.
(27:03):
And you know, well, yousaw what happened when Elliott, you know,
served the six game suspension. Youknow, it's just it's not the
same group without him. So certainly, you know, Jones finds himself between
a rock and a hard place.But you've got to be looking at a
culture in the overall organization, notjust the next ten to sixteen weeks.
(27:23):
I think there's one organization we knowis not that concerned about culture though.
It's probably the Cowboys. And I'mjust having fun. I know exactly what
you mean, and I don't reallyhave a great answer here, because,
as you said, I mean,I think we saw this film before two
years ago when Zeke was suspended andDak and that team went off a cliff.
But at the same time, Imean, we're at a day and
(27:44):
age in the NFL where everyone claimsrunning backs are replaceable, even the best
ones. The Cowboys went and drafteda couple, well, one really exciting
prospect. I believe in Tony Pollard, the other half of that dynamic Memphis
backfield with Darrell Henderson last year,and he is a apparently been turning heads
in camp. I haven't heard asmuch about Mike Webber out of Ohio State.
So yeah, they'd be green,that's for sure. But would they
(28:07):
rather be green than hand out moregreen than they're comfortable with to someone who
has not given them a lot ofreason to be comfortable with what he's doing
when he is not on the footballfield. Yeah, A couple thoughts there.
Mike Webber is a phenomenal athlete whomay be an athlete without a position.
He's not a natural running back,so it'll be interested to see how
he does in that spot. Iwouldn't be stunned if he ends up at
(28:30):
receiver before his career is over.And again, we're agreeing on the Cowboys,
not disagreeing, aren'thur It is Jerryjones respect and concern for culture that
has allowed him to win. Ibelieve it's one playoff game in the last
twenty five years, and so youknow, I mean, i may defend
him two weeks in a row,but I'm not going to pretend I'm a
big fan, so you know,you know, we'll see what happens.
(28:52):
I mean, they're They're a goodfootball team, there's no question about that.
I am, you know, Ithink the more interesting conversation. I
have no idea what to make aJason Gearhart at this point. He's the
nicest guy I've ever met, andI root for him because he really is
a good person. But I getthe feeling that he has survived this long
because he has no issues at cavingto Jones whenever Jones wants to walk all
(29:14):
over him, and that is ahard thing to respect in an NFL head
coach. Yeah, no doubt aboutit. I'm fascinated with the Cowboys.
I can't wait to see Collen Mooreas a rookie play caller. I can't
wait to see potentially how this teamtries to weather a Zeke absence again.
So there's always something it's going totalk about with the Cowboys. We didn't
mention Byron Jones, another guy whois going to be due for a huge
(29:37):
deal. So they have got alot of I don't know, tricky terrain
to try and navigate on the capcap constraint side, and we'll see what
becomes of it. Hub, Iknow we got to get out of here
soon, but we got a coupleother big stories. You've got thoughts on
Cam Newton, injured in his preseasondebut Thursday night, Panthers say they're cautiously
(29:59):
optimistic that Newton, who left thefield in a walking boot, will be
back by week one. We alsohaven't hit on Andrew Luck a lot,
and week one is getting a lotcloser without a lot more clarity on whether
the Colts will have their franchise quarterbackbehind center again. Yeah, no one
has hit on Andrew Luck a lot, because he's literally had three practices since
last season ended. We're not talkingabout just training camp. We're talking about
(30:22):
all summer. We'll get to Luckin just a moment. On the Cam
Newton front, the word on Fridaymorning was that the Panthers are cautiously optimistic.
They dodged a bullet that was originallyconcerned that it was a high ankle
sprain. They're now saying it isa midfoot issue. Now what I'd be
worried about is midfoot the top ofthe foot. That's the dreaded list,
Frank, But they're not suggesting thatit's that at all either. They feel
(30:45):
that both the rehabilitated shoulder and theleg should be good to go in two
weeks. So we will keep aneye on that story. I think it's
really almost more interesting to me arethere that they're comfortable and with his shoulder
rehab to think that he can beready and be close to being Cam Newton
(31:06):
on week one, and so that'sone that we will, you know,
certainly keep an eye on. Ithink the Luck situation is more concerning because
since training camp begun or began,the cults have not come out with their
third new explanation of what they thinkthe injury is. And this is something
(31:26):
that and I'm not being critical ofthe Cults medical staff at all. I
don't even know who's on it,but this is strange to me. I
don't remember a situation like this wherethey've gone through the entire summer and you
know, sometimes there are injuries thatare tough to rehab, but they can't
seem to agree on what this injuryis. And so while I'm sure that
they're thrilled that it's a leg andnot a shoulder, you know, which
(31:48):
costs him a year and a half, beyond that, they can't be too
happy about anything that's going on thereright now, right And you know,
obviously Colts fans feel like they wereduped once before or by that organization,
just in regard to the way theyexplained to Andrew Luck's you know, shoulder
injury that ended up costing them awhole season two years ago. I think
(32:09):
that was the year before Ballard gotthere. I'm not trying to, you
know, throw him under the busor anything like that, but I just
think the point is that Colts fanshave reason to be concerned certainly, and
it's worth mentioning. I mean,Andrew Luck and Cam Newton both big quarterbacks,
big strong quarterbacks who rely a loton their mobility and you know,
(32:30):
inability to to kind of move aroundthe pocket, and they're both dealing with
foot issues and it can't be good. Even as little as we know right
now, it certainly seems like thepin the signs are starting to point a
little more strongly towards Jacoby Brissette inWeek one when the Colts played the Chargers,
and hey, you could do alot worse than Jacoby Brissette. I
think with he and Chad Kelly,the Colts actually have one of the more
(32:52):
interesting, uh you know, moretalented actually backup situations in the league.
But it's obviously a long drop offfrom Andrew Luck, who was just so
great in his return last season.Yeah, I mean, the Colts go
from being a potential AFC contender toand also ran in the AFC South without
Andrew Luck. I firmly believe that, Yes, Chris Ballard has done a
(33:13):
wonderful job rebuilding that team they've got. They've gone from you know, perennial
one, perennially one of the worstoffensive lines in football to argue we're the
best offensive line in football. They'veadded some nice pieces on that defense,
but they are still not deep enoughon the defensive line or even at running
back or wide receiver to argue that, you know, this is a playoff
(33:35):
team without Andrew Luck pulling the trigger. So now again, hey ho,
but you'll find this interesting. Excuseme for cutting me off the director of
sports performance with the Colts. Ibet it's jocking your memory right now.
Rusty Jones, obviously it was inChicago forever. I know you know him.
Well. Does that make you moreor less concerned that he's part of
the team that's struggling to identify what'sup with Andrew Luck? I'm guessing more
(33:57):
so because of how highly you feelabout Russ and know all the great work
he has done in three decades inthe NFL. Yeah, Rusty is one
of the great strength and conditioning coachesin the history of the league, and
the list of Hall of famers whoswear by him as legion, and so
you know he will do a greatjob with Luck. But this gets to
the heart of what I was talkingabout. He's got to know what he's
(34:19):
rehabbing first. So that's where,yeah, this concern comes in with the
doctors is that they can't seem toagree on what it is when it comes
to a avoiding injury because of strengthand conditioning, and then to rehabilitating injuries
once they occur. There's nobody betterthan Rusty Jones. Now, Rusty,
I believe is also not full timethere though I think it's kind of a
(34:40):
consulting almost front office role. Iknow he's working with a staff. Don't
quote me on that. We'll checkthat and I'll have more details next week.
But yeah, I mean, you'vegot the best in the business to
help you if you know what you'reworking on. And everything I'm hearing is
that Ballard and Reicher are cautiously optimistic. You know. The good news about
(35:00):
Andrew luck as if they can getthe legs sound. He's not a guy
who needs a ton of practice toget out there and be himself. He
has demonstrated that in the past.So it will be interesting to watch that
story over the next ten days aswe get to that first Wednesday practice before
the regular season opener. So weunfortunately are out of time here, but
(35:22):
we want to thank you all somuch for joining us. We really do
appreciate and getting a visit with youevery week. Again, our thanks to
our sponsors of course, to ourexecutive producer, Damn Not, the guys
from Humphrey's McGee Arthur, thank youeverybody. Have a great week. And
you know what, guys, Ienjoy these podcasts whenever we do them,
but it's a lot more fun whenthey're playing real football. And we're only
(35:42):
about two weeks away, so wewill be back with our final exhibition season
podcast next week. Make sure yougo to Pro Football Weekly dot com for
information on how to get a subscriptionto our PF podcasts. You want the
Pro Football with the NFL podcast andPro Football with the Chicago as well.
We will talk to you all againnext week.
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