Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And I'm Phil Malaney filling in for Benjamin Albright, hanging
out here with Nick Ferguson on a busy first day
of the legal tampering period. The Broncos bolstering their defense
and Nick, I guess now, the question is what about
the playmakers for bow Nicks. You know, heading into the offseason,
I thought that George Payton and Sean Payton, they laid
(00:21):
it out, they said, Hey, here's what we're trying to do.
We got to fix the center of our defense. They've
come out and they've done that. And now the other
thing they said is, hey, we're trying to get some
weapons here for bow Nicks.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
My question is do you think that in free agency.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
There's some guys out there that are saying, yeah, I
want to be a part of that in Denver Sean Payton,
you know, the offensive mastermind. I want to play for
an offensive you know, minded head coach. And then bow
Nick's a young, up and coming guy. Yeah, I want
to be a part of that. Or do you take
the jury still out on whether Denver is a destination
on the offensive side.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Well, I think the jury is still out on the
Broncos being a destination the reason I say that because
I go back to my playing days and even before
I came to Denver, there was a certain standard that
was already established and you wanted to be a part
of that particular movement. Had the Broncos taken steps in
that direction, absolutely, are.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
They where they need to be?
Speaker 3 (01:22):
No, maybe after this season they'll be there because once again,
twenty twenty six, they have a boatload of money. You
hope that the Broncos can catch lightning in a bottle
in year two and Bo be just as impressive in
year two in Seampagnon's offense as he.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Was in year one.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
So the Broncos can turn the organization once again into
that kind of you know, free agent destination. But yeah,
I'm sure that there's some free agents that are looking
at the team and saying, okay, well what do you
have in place? And the reason I bring that up
because depending on where you are in your career, if
you are in that eighth, ninth, tenth year, maybe you
(02:02):
look at Denver, but you may look at teams who
are in a position to make a deep playoff run
a little bit closer. A little bit closer, not a
slight to the Denver Broncos. But that just depending on
where you are in your career.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Yeah, I thought that what Sean said at the combine
was really good, saying like, look, just because we made
the playoffs last year doesn't mean we're going to be right.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Back there again.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
We got to go back to zero and start building
it up again. That that was the right mindset, because
there are no guarantees, Nick, And you know, you look
around the AFC, all these other teams getting better and better,
the division is still going to be really difficult.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
The Raiders are going to be better next year.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
So I think that if you look at the Broncos,
I think it's still a little TVD.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Let's see what happens.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
You do this again next year, then you're you're back
to sort of that standards you're talking about.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Because I agree with you. I think that when you when.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
You came to the Broncos, you know, at that point
with Mike Tier, there was like, all right, the Broncos
are always going to be right in the mix.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
There there was an aura you knew that what teams
and what games were those I need to circle this
game and I need to make sure my game is
on point. And there were ribraries at that time. Right now,
you can't really call a game against Kansas City or
(03:25):
the Chargers or even the Raiders a ribberry because in
order for something to be considered a ribery, you have
established a certain level of consistency. And when we talk
about the Broncos and are their free agent destination, that
goes back to consistency. Like, as coaches, you ask your
players to be consistent in everything they do, whether it's
at practice or whether it's in the game. So what
(03:47):
the organization has to do they have to strain a
couple of wins together, but also seasons together where now
you're getting double digit wins.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
Now that's an entirely different story.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Sorry, Well, once again, it goes back to why the
Broncos have made the moves that they have in free agency,
because they're trying to re establish that standard in show consistency.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Yeah, I think that that's a good point.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
And another thing is I do believe that Sean likes
to find offensive players in the draft and coach them
up to a higher level.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Why he believes he could do that.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
You know, why why those players are not expensive?
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (04:28):
I mean, yeah, of course, yeah, yes, but I do
think that he's got a perspective of I could get
this guy to the next level on the offensive side,
especially skilled players, and that's why he was successful there
in New Orleans, finding guys a little bit later and
then taking their game to like a higher level. I
think he believes that that he could do that. I mean,
(04:50):
he's proven he can do that too, and I think
that he thinks, Okay, looks, let's get these athletic specimens.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Let's get a guy like green Law.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
I can't coach that that. I can't make a guy
that kind of an athlete, but I can get a
pretty athletic wide receiver to the next level.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
But you know what, that goes back to Sean Payton's time
in New Orleans and you look at, okay, well, at
what side of the ball the position group that they
spent majority of their money when it comes to the
wide receiver position.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Now, all as what they were not big on, you know,
big paydays for wide receivers. So you have to as
far as you know, establishing the culture of your team
and free agency, what side of the ball we want
to spend the bulk of our money.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Yeah, and then establishing and the draft where.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
You want to go out and get you know, young
talentsor right now, that seemed to be the Broncos idea
and how they want to handle twenty twenty.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Five twenty twenty six could be entirely different.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Maybe if you're knocking on the door and you're just
like one guy away, then you go out and you
spend that money, you spur but yeah, exactly, yeah if
you because you've got to go for it if you're closed.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
Have you ever splurs on anything before? Not?
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Nothing crazy? I mean like an engagement ring.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
Okay, okay, that's something, yeah something, Yeah, that is something.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
The same the same for me because until I got married,
I had never explurs on anything like that before.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Yeah, Like I'm never like buy like a super nice car,
like I always try to be reasonable. But the engagement ring,
I had to go home and I had a drink
and I said that I was like, yeah, to ask
me something.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
What did I just do?
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Is almost like Look, when I got married, you know,
the idea was like you get you get a baby stroller,
right because your wife wants to stay fit and she
wants to jog around. And then it was like, well,
you need another stroller because that's that jogging strollers too big,
so you need a.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Thin stroller, travel stroller.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
And I'm like, yeah, rollers in He's like before hold
on hockey man, Yeah that's true. You can't resell it either.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Well, Facebook marketplace sometimes Oh yeah nowadays you can't.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Oh see ye yes, change back then. See I couldn't
do that.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeah, you gotta get on there. Yeah, that's where you can.
You should get some deals. They grow you fast, Nick,
so you can't be buying expensive stuff for the baby.
They're changing so fast.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
But you don't have to tell me that.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
I'm the one thing in the opposite direction because I'm
just like, I know people like when I was playing
that would buy like, uh, they have like a six
month old kid.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
And they're buying them baby Jordan's and I'm like, man.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
In two weeks, yes, he's growing up.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
So for me, it's like they'll put some flip flops
on it, put some flip flops on it.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Maybe, Okay, yeah, I buy my son like an extra
extra large jacket. I was like, that's good for this
winner and the winner after them.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
So that's essentially with the brocos we'll be looking for
as they push on the free agency. They're gonna look
for bargains, right, and the idea of free agency.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
The longer you stay out there, the lower.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Your number starts to come down. Because you gotta decide
do you want to hold tight to I'm only gonna
take this amount of money, or do you want to
continue to play?
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Yeah, your market, your market changes a little bit.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
You know.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
That kind of gets to our next point.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Here is a guy like Von Miller, Yes, Nick, release
by the Buffalo Bills.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
What do you think he's sort of a fan favorite.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
You know, seventeen. Let's see how many years in the
league is he now? Fourteen years? He just finished his
fourteenth year.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
It's a long time.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Ten years in Demmer, a year in LA and three
in Buffalo.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Man, has he been in Buffalo that long? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (08:34):
His first year that he had eight sacks, none his
second year and then six last year.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Well okay, so that second year he got injured.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Yeah, yeah, okay, he only played let's see twelve games.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
So are you in favor? Because I saw this so
much of a social.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Media fan movement.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
Fandom went wild, It went wild.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
They were like, bring Von back home and put him
on the one year deal. And I was just like, Okay, yeah,
bring him back home for the Ring of Fame ceremony. Yeah,
but I don't know if you're bringing him back to
make him a member of the team.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
I think you do what you did with Chris Harris
Junior last year. You know, have him come into the facility,
sign us retirement paperwork, take some photos, hang out with
the team for a little bit, and then during you know,
at the end of the first quarter at a game,
have him go out there wave to the fans. And
I think that if he's ready to retire, I mean,
(09:31):
I don't want to push anybody into retirement.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
He's to thinking about. Funny thing about retirement and sports.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
That's especially football, that's different from everything else. See, they
don't have to kind of push you into retirement. See
they kind of tell me. They tell you this when
the ball stop bringing that that means though you're already retired.
Because they see so many guys who stay in the
game at far too long and they want to get
(09:57):
picked up and they hope, okay, well someone's gonna get
insured me. Maybe by week six, someone's gonna get me
a call. But the call doesn't come. Is week eight,
is week nine? Now is Thanksgiving, and now players say,
you know what, now I'm going to retire.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
I don't want Vaughn to be in.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
A situation where we've seen boxers pants their prime and
him still out there trying to make things work. I
don't want I want to remember the best days of
von Miller.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Yeah, and I think that looked like Vaughn.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
His his strong skill set was to get off off
the line, and it's burst and his ability to bend
and wrap around that corner. I don't think he could
do that anymore. So his game has evolved. Here now
I know Vn pretty well. Here, Nick, I would imagine
that he's looking at this all time SAX leader list. Okay,
(10:51):
all time SAX leader Okay, Vaughn has one hundred and
twenty nine and a half. One hundred twenty nine and
a half. Okay, if he has eight more sacks, he'll
be in the top ten.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Is that for for Broncos?
Speaker 2 (11:04):
No?
Speaker 1 (11:04):
No, no, I'm all time NFL right now, he's sixteenth, But
he could he could pass a bunch of guys if
he just gets eight more sacks and look like his
Like top guy is DeMarcus ware right, DeMarcus has one
hundred and thirty eight and a half. So if he
gets nine more sacks, he'll tie DeMarcus. So I do
(11:28):
think that that matters to him. I mean, I don't
know that for sure, but I do think that. No, no, no,
I'm saying I don't think he's gonna retire, but I
don't think that. I don't think that it's time for
him to come back for the Broncos because some people
might say, well, hey, DeMarcus was in his uh you know,
twilight of his career and he came back and had
(11:49):
some productive time. You know, I don't think this is
a different deal. DeMarcus was a different type of pass
rusher than Vaughn was, so or is So I don't
think it's quite like that. Vaughn is gonna have to play, like,
I think, two more years to get into that top ten.
And I bet you that team could give him that
if he's willing to play for that amount of money.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
Well, Vaughn had six sacks last year. He needs eight.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
He needs eight, and then he'll be tied to get
into the top ten.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
So now this would make Vaughn, who's no longer an
every down player anymore.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
No, he's a third down specialist.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
And you can imagine that he's gonna miss some time.
You know, you know, maybe instead of seventeen games, he'll
play ten to eleven.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
See, that would mean that that Vaughn would have to
go to a team that has a great defense and
when I say a great defense upfront, second level back
in because if he's coming in on third down, your
third down specialist, you get paid to get after the
quarterback and that's a passing down.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Also, you need to go to a team that offensively
they score points at a high clip, because that means
is though where if your offense is scoring points, the
opposing offense, they balance attack.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
Is no longer there. They now have to pass the
ball and which will give you more opportunities. So, once again,
is there a team Willan Williams did.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
That, I would just go back to the Bills for
less money. Honestly, I think that's probably the best spot
for him there.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
He's already there.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
No, but the Bills already say you know what, hey, Vaughn.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Thank you for what he was making.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Okay, So maybe if he's willing to play for a
little bit less and he's uh, how much less?
Speaker 2 (13:36):
That's a good question.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
How much how much less?
Speaker 3 (13:39):
Okay, if you're Vonn, would you go back after making
absorbed amount of money?
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Would you go back to Buffalo or a team like Baltimore?
Help me?
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Maybe?
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Even Oh I almost say that.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
I didn't say that would hurt my eyes, I know.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
But we're looking at I new ways to get Vaughn
to those markets.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Yeah, right, so taking less money with teams that can
score points, Yeah, that may.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
Be part of those teams.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Yeah, and those teams he's got a chance to win
a third Super Bowl. Like, that's another incentive there. You know,
he's already past Derek Thomas, which is another one of
his heroes. You know, So Derek Thomas had one hundred
and twenty six and a half, so he's already three
ahead of him. So I think that I think that
von once again in that top ten if you ask me.
(14:33):
But and also if you ask me, I think she's
already a Hall of Famer.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
So, oh, you know, without a doubt, that's not even
in questions.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
The only thing in question is that to bring Vaughn
in on any team. But listen, let's talk about the Broncos.
Are you willing to stifle the growth of the Jonah.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Ellis No, I don't think you can do it.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
That's what I would love to see Von Beck, but
not at the calls financially, but also not at the
risk of sacrifice those guys, those young guys, you know, yeah,
their production.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
And also the new culture with the Broncos.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
You sort of turned the page from the previous era
of Denver football, and bringing Von back will sort of
I think muddy those waters a little bit. That's what
I think. I think you've turned the page and you
sort of said, Okay, we're moving on here. This is
a new era, and I don't think you want to
I want to mess with that, so I want to
mess with it. So anyway, that's an interesting look there
(15:30):
at a at a fan favorite, a sentimental player, and
I love Von I just want.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
To I want to bring him back here right now.
So anyway, a lot.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
More going on around the NFL, some big, big contracts,
some trades. We'll have the NFL six Pack next on
Broncos Country Tonight. Broncos Country Tonight. Spending your evening with us.
I'm Phil Malani filling in for Benjamin Albright out here
(16:00):
in studio with Nick ferguson big day all around the NFL.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Nick, not just for the Broncos. The Broncos obviously bolstering.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Their defense here, but there were a lot of big
moves all across the NFL. Got us thinking maybe this
would be a good time for an NFL six pack.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
What do you think.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Drink?
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Yeah, all right, Zach, take it away this time.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
For the NFL six path. I'm gonna drink a beer.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Insight and inside information you can't find anywhere else I know.
Six the top six NFL headlines on.
Speaker 5 (16:38):
Starting off here, we got the Seattle Seahawks fixing their
quarterback conundrum that they opened at the end of last
week by signing Sam Darnold to a three year deal
for the one hundred point five million dollars and fifty
million the Big five zero guaranteed. Do you guys think
the Seahawks ultimately got better or worse at quarter back
(17:00):
by Trady Gino Smith to the Raiders and signing Sam
Donald to this.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Very lucrative deal.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
I think they got better, Nick, Sam Donald rejuvenated his
career a couple of years ago in San Francisco quarterback
coach there Clint Kobyac which Broncos fans are obviously aware of.
Now Clint Kubiak, the offensive coordinator in Seattle, reunited with
Sam Donald and look, I think that the framework of
(17:29):
this deal must have been sort of in place there
when they made the move with Gino, and I think
they get better here Sam Donald thirty five touchdowns, twelve
interceptions in a similar type of scheme there with Minnesota
last year.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
I don't know if they got better.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
I think for me is more or less like you
have more familiarity based on idea of when Sam Donalds
was in San Francisco, Clint Kubiak was a passing game
coordinator and then he went to Sam Donald went to
the Minnesota vikns. So now you essentially like a Kirk Cousins,
you are playing in the same offense that you are
(18:08):
familiar with, and then you now go to Seattle where
you're going to see a lot of play action, pass moves, keeps,
those types of things that are familiar with Mike Shanahan
type of offense. So did Seattle really get better? We
don't know, because some of your main weapons are not there.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
DK is not there.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
You don't get Tyler Lockett in the slat, so For me,
I have to wait to judge.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
To determine whether this was the best move for the
Seattle Seahawks.
Speaker 5 (18:35):
I fully agree on the scheme fit. I think that's
a great point, but I do worry a bit. You
know that offensive line was really rough. You talked about
all the missing weapons. The one tiblem we've seen with
Sam Donald is when the situation goes a little awry,
he can spiral, and I worry if that makes him
an uncomfortable fit.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
In San Francisco or Seattle.
Speaker 5 (18:54):
Two Houston Texans and Washington come and made a big
trade today, maybe one of the biggest moves of the day.
The Texans will be sending the Commanders their star left
tackle Larnie Tunzel, lock up the gas Masks and a
fourth round pick. Well, the Washington Commanders will be sending
back a second, a third, a fourth, and a seventh
(19:16):
round pick over these next two drafts, two picks in
either draft. Do you think the Texans are dooming CJ.
Strud By trading his best offensive lineman And what do
you think of the trade for the Commanders.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I like it for the Commanders that Adam Peters, another
Broncos guy here he's going all in like this whole offseason. There.
They're going after it here, guys, and I think that
that's smart. You know, there's a window here with Jaden
Daniels after what he did as a rookie. I like
Washington really going after it making the move with Tebo.
(19:49):
They're being aggressive. They feel like maybe they got a
shot here. Look, the Cowboys are sort of down, the
Giants are down. Obviously the Eagles just won of the
Super But maybe there's an opportunity here for Washington after
making it to the conference title game to take that
next step that you know, hey, the best time is
(20:10):
right now.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
So I like it for Washington.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
For Houston, I think they're reshifting maybe their focus a
little bit.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Look, c J.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Stroud was sacked fifty two times last year. It's not
exactly like he was getting a lot of blocking as
it was, So look, they got to refocus, reshuffle. They
get a lot of picks here, so maybe they're just
sort of a change in their focus a little bit.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
I think it's a Houston Texans are definitely doing the
reshift and changing their focus. They realize that they have
a talented quarterback and c J. Stroud like you said,
fifty two sacks last year that led that with the
second most in the league. The most was sixty eight
by Chicago Bears and then Caleb Williams, and you can
see what Ben Johnson is doing this offseason to kind
of put some protection in front of him. But I
(20:54):
think this goes well for Jane Daniels. He was sacked
forty seven times year, and Adam Peters knows that in
order to get this team to where they need to
get to, they have.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
To protect their quarterback.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
And Jane Dames does a great job of moving around
in the pocket to make his offensive line look great.
To me, I think this may hurt the Texans, but
it helps the Washington Commanders. At the same time, I.
Speaker 5 (21:20):
Think it really hurts the Texans. I don't know how
you're going to protect CJ. Stroud and his long term
development without an offensive line. We saw him regress this
last season, and now the line just got a heck
of a lot worse. Jade Daniels and the Commanders, though,
I really like what Adam Peters is doing here. They
were knocking on the door of the Super Bowl last
year and got dominated by the Eagles in the trenches.
The offensive line held up the whole season up until
(21:42):
that championship game. I think it says to me that,
you know, they're not looking to make small improvements, you know,
a small built They're ready to try and.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Win right now.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
Sorry the Patriots.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
You mentioned the Chicago Bears one of the big spenders.
The Patriots were another one of today's big spenders. They
signed nine players in total, including them coaching Milton Williams
from the Panthers saying I drink your milkshake, as well
as Carlton Davis, Morgan, Moses, Harold Landry, Roberts Blaine and
Mac Hollins joining New England. Do you think these moves
(22:19):
are enough to make the Patriots contenders again after picking
top four in each of the last two seasons, And
I don't mean Super Bowl contenders, I mean, you know
they're fighting for a playoffs.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Well, I think that they're going to be respectable again, certainly, guys.
I mean I think that, you know, the last couple
of years obviously not what we're used to see in
there in New England, but look, Mike Rabel comes in there, they're.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Changing their focus there.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
They're spending a lot of money Hey, you worry about
your cap space later. Let's get back to being respectable,
being a tough football team. I think that that make
of these moves brings them back to being respectable. And
I think that they're going to be just another team
there in the A that's gonna be a tough opponent.
(23:03):
You know, they've got the fourth overall pick. Imagine if
they get a guy like Travis Hunter, you add that
into the mix. I mean, you're talking about a totally
revamped roster. Robert Splain that was a linebacker. A lot
of people thought maybe the Broncos would be interested in
You've seen him what he was able to do with
the Raiders. I think that maybe not contenders, they might
(23:23):
not make the playoffs, but they're going to be back
to being respectable.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Well, I'm gonna say this, I think the Patriots make
the playoffs this year because, yeah, Drake may Is, you
showed when the season was winding down he was kind
of whining into form. And now you add nine players
to the roster. To me, it changes a lot of
the philosophy. And you could tell Brabel is trying to
get back to those old Patriots ways, being tough, gritty,
(23:49):
in your face type of defense. And the only way
you could do that is bring in those types of
players that share the same of philosophy. So don't be
surprised once again if the New England Pagetriots are in
the playoffs.
Speaker 5 (24:02):
Yeah, I think it's just good to uplift the floor
of the roster, get him a little bit respectable. I
do think it might tip their hand a little bit
about pick number four. You've got Christian Gonzalez. Now you
just handed out a lot of money to Carlton Davis.
Both those guys ideally play on the boundary. Travis Hunter
is a little bit of a lighter cornerback. I think
it makes it a lot more likely the Patriots go
(24:22):
Travis Hunter right there.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
Let's see, before.
Speaker 5 (24:28):
Justin Fields gets another chance, it'll be his third team
during his stint in the NFL. He signed a two
year deal with the New York Foot All right, now,
that's the NewYork coopball butts in New York Jets Gane
Green worth forty million dollars with thirty million guaranteed over
these next two seasons. Do you think third times the
charm for Justin Fields? And he finally cements himself as
(24:50):
a starter in this league or is he just the
bridge quarterback for the New York Jets.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
I like a two year deal here.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
I think that that's a good fit for Justin Fields.
See what he can do? Okay, that's what I think, Nick.
I mean, he was able to clearly show off his
athleticism when he was with Chicago, did some nice things
in a couple of games last year with Pittsburgh. Look
when they benched him and made the move to Russ,
I think that the trust was gone there. So I
(25:18):
think that Justin was always going to leave, And now
he's in a nice spot where, hey, maybe there's not
the highest expectations.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
For the Jets.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
The Jets are going through a complete overhaul here with
their team, and you know, bring in Justin Fields. I
know you like a quarterback who can run, Nick, so hey,
he can do that, he can distribute the ball a
little bit.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
Why not?
Speaker 1 (25:39):
Yeah, I mean, let's see, let's see what he could
do and buys some time there in New York. They
got a guy they can lean on now, and if
he can produce, you ride with him.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
If not a year from now, you're looking, Hey, you're.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
Talking about buying time.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
That's something exactly that that offensive line did not do
last year for Aaron Rodgers, who was sacked forty times. Now,
I do, like myself some mobile quarterbacks, and for Justin Fields,
he has Rod Taylor as a backup who has experienced
in this league being a mobile quarterback. And when you
look at the help that's around him, Reese Hall and
(26:14):
Byron Brilliant Allen, those are two guys at the running
back position that can really take the pressure off of him.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
And you should see a more Ohio.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
State offense where we see a lot of RPOs.
Speaker 5 (26:25):
Yeah, and he's got that built in chemistry with Garrett
Wilson there the top flight receiver. I wonder if that
is enough to satisfy Garrett Wilson though, ultimate what you
Justin Fields has been up and down as an NFL
starting quarterback, and at the end of this season, Garrett
Wilson said, if Aaron Rodgers is coming back.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
I'm out of here.
Speaker 5 (26:41):
So he seems a little unhappy. He wants some good
quarterback play. I don't know if Fields will be enough
for That's something I'm watching, But.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
That's where the familiarity comes in and all you have
to do you have a guy you played with and
throwing you a lot of passes.
Speaker 4 (26:53):
It makes you happy. If you're a wide receiver, that's true.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
That touches makes everyone happy.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
Five.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
All right.
Speaker 5 (27:01):
The Chicago Bears, like the Patriots, we talked about them
a little earlier, hyper aggressive, very active. Today on the
first day of the legal tampoerine window, the Chicago Bears,
also before free agency opened, made two big trades on
offensive line for Jonah Jackson.
Speaker 4 (27:16):
And Joe Thuney.
Speaker 5 (27:17):
Today, they continued to build on that by signing top
center in the free agent class, Drew Damon from the
Atlanta Falcons. They also added two of the most expensive
defensive linemen today, with Thio Odeno from the Colts and
Grady Jarrett, the Star, also from the Falcons. Is this enough,
in your opinion to help turn the Bears around and
get them back to respectability in a loaded NFC North
(27:40):
Division or are they still a year away in their
build from contending in that loaded Con division.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
I don't think they're going to knock off the Lions.
I mean, I think right now you got to say
the Lions are the favorite, you know, with the Eagles
to make it to the.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Super Bowl in the NFC.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
But I do think that the Bears have made a
lot of good moves this offseason. I mean they're bringing in,
you know, a dynamic offensive play caller and Ben Johnson,
Caleb Williams. I mean, that's the best thing you could
do for him, right, get a stability at your play
calling position.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
And get him an offensive line.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
That's what you want, and that's what you got to
do if you're the Bears, to give your number one
overall pick a chance to go out there.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
And have success.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
They still got weapons on the outside, So I think
that things are going to turn around for Chicago, but gosh,
that division. We don't know what Minnesota is going to
be like, you know, with JJ McCarthy coming in here.
But I certainly you know the Packers are going to
be good, and you know the Lions are going to
be great.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
So I think they're still a little bit away.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
I think Van Johnson is doing a great job and
Ryan Pole so far, because the offensive line was an issue,
sixty eight sacks so far.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
They had a new center and they got two new guards.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
And that's the quickest way between the straight between two
points is a straight line. So if you can protect
in that interior you give now and give camble Winsman oportunity.
So I like what the Bears have done this far.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
Six last one for you guys here, and we're taking
it back home to the Denver Broncos. NFL dot COM's
Greg Rosenthal ranks Amari Cooper, Stefan Diggs, Evan Ingram and
running backs JK. Dobbins and Rico Dwell as the best
available weapons on the.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
Free agent market.
Speaker 5 (29:27):
You've been talking about how you maybe want to add
some weapons for bow Knicks. Would you like to see
the Denver Broncos target any of these players?
Speaker 1 (29:33):
And if so, who I say, No, I go draft
maybe Ingram. If you bring in Ingram, then you've answered
your tight end. You've got some flexibility. There could still
draft a tight end, but at least you don't have to.
And I would build on the offensive side of through
the draft.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
For me, I still like Evan Ingram if they can
pull it off if the Chargers don't know how sign him.
Speaker 4 (29:55):
But also JK. Dobbins. I mean JK. Dobbins was a
problem for the Broncos, but.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
During their matchup and to bring in a veteran guy,
I mean that definitely helps, because I mean, you do
have some veterman guys a running back on the Broncos roster,
but you still can get a veteran guy who's dynamic
and both running and passing game, and you still go
out and grab a guy in free agency as well,
or I'm not free agency, but as far as the
draft as well.
Speaker 5 (30:19):
Rico dowdle. You know, I really like him at running
back too. I think he's a smaller name in that
Cowboys running back room. Struggled early on in the season,
but I thought he closed the year really well. And
I think if you watched week ten to Week seventeen,
or like week twelve to week seventeen, ric o'dowdell and
Aaron Jones, I think Rico Jaha might have been the
better between the two during that stretch.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
I mean, I definitely agree with that.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
But once again, looking at what the Broncos and trying
to accomplish, and I always go back to what Sean
Payne did in New Orleans, and I said, well, Darren
Sproz and those running backs were a key cod and
allowing Drew Brees to dump the ball off into show
a passing game.
Speaker 4 (30:56):
I mean for me, JK.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
Dobbins would be a great guy, great fit for that
and not and not in the third down specialist type
of role, but a guy who can be your ever
down guy while you bring a young runner back along.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
I like Dobbins, Yeah, I mean, he seems like he's
answered some of his injury problems, so yeah, I like,
I like go with Dobbins maybe.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
Yeah. I think he.
Speaker 5 (31:17):
Looks good this year, and you'll be getting him another
year removed from those really devastating lower body injuries.
Speaker 4 (31:22):
He might even get a better version next year. And
he's a better thing about it.
Speaker 3 (31:25):
The longest, the longer he stays on the freedge market,
his prize goes down even better.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
Achilles.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
You know, you gotta get these guys right and then
uh and then you see what they can produce.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
You know.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
What a first day here for the Broncos bringing in
in tell Noah halfung Ga, Drake Greenlaw bolstering that defense.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
It was awesome to see.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
We'll have to find out what day two of the
legal tampering brings for Dick Ferguson and Zach Seekers. I
am film aline. This has been a Broncos country tonight
And I'm Phil Malaney filling in for Benjamin Albright, hanging
out here with Nick Ferguson on a busy first day
of the legal tampering period. The Broncos bolstering their defense
and Nick, I guess now, the question is what about
the playmakers for bow Nicks. You know, heading into the offseason,
I thought that George Payton and Sean Payton, they laid
(00:21):
it out, they said, Hey, here's what we're trying to do.
We got to fix the center of our defense. They've
come out and they've done that. And now the other
thing they said is, hey, we're trying to get some
weapons here for bow Nicks.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
My question is do you think that in free agency.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
There's some guys out there that are saying, yeah, I
want to be a part of that in Denver Sean Payton,
you know, the offensive mastermind. I want to play for
an offensive you know, minded head coach. And then bow
Nick's a young, up and coming guy. Yeah, I want
to be a part of that. Or do you take
the jury still out on whether Denver is a destination
on the offensive side.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Well, I think the jury is still out on the
Broncos being a destination the reason I say that because
I go back to my playing days and even before
I came to Denver, there was a certain standard that
was already established and you wanted to be a part
of that particular movement. Had the Broncos taken steps in
that direction, absolutely, are.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
They where they need to be?
Speaker 3 (01:22):
No, maybe after this season they'll be there because once again,
twenty twenty six, they have a boatload of money. You
hope that the Broncos can catch lightning in a bottle
in year two and Bo be just as impressive in
year two in Seampagnon's offense as he.
Speaker 4 (01:37):
Was in year one.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
So the Broncos can turn the organization once again into
that kind of you know, free agent destination. But yeah,
I'm sure that there's some free agents that are looking
at the team and saying, okay, well what do you
have in place? And the reason I bring that up
because depending on where you are in your career, if
you are in that eighth, ninth, tenth year, maybe you
(02:02):
look at Denver, but you may look at teams who
are in a position to make a deep playoff run
a little bit closer. A little bit closer, not a
slight to the Denver Broncos. But that just depending on
where you are in your career.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Yeah, I thought that what Sean said at the combine
was really good, saying like, look, just because we made
the playoffs last year doesn't mean we're going to be right.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Back there again.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
We got to go back to zero and start building
it up again. That that was the right mindset, because
there are no guarantees, Nick, And you know, you look
around the AFC, all these other teams getting better and better,
the division is still going to be really difficult.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
The Raiders are going to be better next year.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
So I think that if you look at the Broncos,
I think it's still a little TVD.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Let's see what happens.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
You do this again next year, then you're you're back
to sort of that standards you're talking about.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Because I agree with you. I think that when you when.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
You came to the Broncos, you know, at that point
with Mike Tier, there was like, all right, the Broncos
are always going to be right in the mix.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
There there was an aura you knew that what teams
and what games were those I need to circle this
game and I need to make sure my game is
on point. And there were ribraries at that time. Right now,
you can't really call a game against Kansas City or
(03:25):
the Chargers or even the Raiders a ribberry because in
order for something to be considered a ribery, you have
established a certain level of consistency. And when we talk
about the Broncos and are their free agent destination, that
goes back to consistency. Like, as coaches, you ask your
players to be consistent in everything they do, whether it's
at practice or whether it's in the game. So what
(03:47):
the organization has to do they have to strain a
couple of wins together, but also seasons together where now
you're getting double digit wins.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
Now that's an entirely different story.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Sorry, Well, once again, it goes back to why the
Broncos have made the moves that they have in free agency,
because they're trying to re establish that standard in show consistency.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Yeah, I think that that's a good point.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
And another thing is I do believe that Sean likes
to find offensive players in the draft and coach them
up to a higher level.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Why he believes he could do that.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
You know, why why those players are not expensive?
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (04:28):
I mean, yeah, of course, yeah, yes, but I do
think that he's got a perspective of I could get
this guy to the next level on the offensive side,
especially skilled players, and that's why he was successful there
in New Orleans, finding guys a little bit later and
then taking their game to like a higher level. I
think he believes that that he could do that. I mean,
(04:50):
he's proven he can do that too, and I think
that he thinks, Okay, looks, let's get these athletic specimens.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Let's get a guy like green Law.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
I can't coach that that. I can't make a guy
that kind of an athlete, but I can get a
pretty athletic wide receiver to the next level.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
But you know what, that goes back to Sean Payton's time
in New Orleans and you look at, okay, well, at
what side of the ball the position group that they
spent majority of their money when it comes to the
wide receiver position.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Now, all as what they were not big on, you know,
big paydays for wide receivers. So you have to as
far as you know, establishing the culture of your team
and free agency, what side of the ball we want
to spend the bulk of our money.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Yeah, and then establishing and the draft where.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
You want to go out and get you know, young
talentsor right now, that seemed to be the Broncos idea
and how they want to handle twenty twenty.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
Five twenty twenty six could be entirely different.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Maybe if you're knocking on the door and you're just
like one guy away, then you go out and you
spend that money, you spur but yeah, exactly, yeah if
you because you've got to go for it if you're closed.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
Have you ever splurs on anything before? Not?
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Nothing crazy? I mean like an engagement ring.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
Okay, okay, that's something, yeah something, Yeah, that is something.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
The same the same for me because until I got married,
I had never explurs on anything like that before.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Yeah, Like I'm never like buy like a super nice car,
like I always try to be reasonable. But the engagement ring,
I had to go home and I had a drink
and I said that I was like, yeah, to ask
me something.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
What did I just do?
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Is almost like Look, when I got married, you know,
the idea was like you get you get a baby stroller,
right because your wife wants to stay fit and she
wants to jog around. And then it was like, well,
you need another stroller because that's that jogging strollers too big,
so you need a.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Thin stroller, travel stroller.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
And I'm like, yeah, rollers in He's like before hold
on hockey man, Yeah that's true. You can't resell it either.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Well, Facebook marketplace sometimes Oh yeah nowadays you can't.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Oh see ye yes, change back then. See I couldn't
do that.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeah, you gotta get on there. Yeah, that's where you can.
You should get some deals. They grow you fast, Nick,
so you can't be buying expensive stuff for the baby.
They're changing so fast.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
But you don't have to tell me that.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
I'm the one thing in the opposite direction because I'm
just like, I know people like when I was playing
that would buy like, uh, they have like a six
month old kid.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
And they're buying them baby Jordan's and I'm like, man.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
In two weeks, yes, he's growing up.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
So for me, it's like they'll put some flip flops
on it, put some flip flops on it.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Maybe, Okay, yeah, I buy my son like an extra
extra large jacket. I was like, that's good for this
winner and the winner after them.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
So that's essentially with the brocos we'll be looking for
as they push on the free agency. They're gonna look
for bargains, right, and the idea of free agency.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
The longer you stay out there, the lower.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Your number starts to come down. Because you gotta decide
do you want to hold tight to I'm only gonna
take this amount of money, or do you want to
continue to play?
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Yeah, your market, your market changes a little bit.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
You know.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
That kind of gets to our next point.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Here is a guy like Von Miller, Yes, Nick, release
by the Buffalo Bills.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
What do you think he's sort of a fan favorite.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
You know, seventeen. Let's see how many years in the
league is he now? Fourteen years? He just finished his
fourteenth year.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
It's a long time.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Ten years in Demmer, a year in LA and three
in Buffalo.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
Man, has he been in Buffalo that long? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (08:34):
His first year that he had eight sacks, none his
second year and then six last year.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
Well okay, so that second year he got injured.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Yeah, yeah, okay, he only played let's see twelve games.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
So are you in favor? Because I saw this so
much of a social.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Media fan movement.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
Fandom went wild, It went wild.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
They were like, bring Von back home and put him
on the one year deal. And I was just like, Okay, yeah,
bring him back home for the Ring of Fame ceremony. Yeah,
but I don't know if you're bringing him back to
make him a member of the team.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
I think you do what you did with Chris Harris
Junior last year. You know, have him come into the facility,
sign us retirement paperwork, take some photos, hang out with
the team for a little bit, and then during you know,
at the end of the first quarter at a game,
have him go out there wave to the fans. And
I think that if he's ready to retire, I mean,
(09:31):
I don't want to push anybody into retirement.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
He's to thinking about. Funny thing about retirement and sports.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
That's especially football, that's different from everything else. See, they
don't have to kind of push you into retirement. See
they kind of tell me. They tell you this when
the ball stop bringing that that means though you're already retired.
Because they see so many guys who stay in the
game at far too long and they want to get
(09:57):
picked up and they hope, okay, well someone's gonna get
insured me. Maybe by week six, someone's gonna get me
a call. But the call doesn't come. Is week eight,
is week nine? Now is Thanksgiving, and now players say,
you know what, now I'm going to retire.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
I don't want Vaughn to be in.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
A situation where we've seen boxers pants their prime and
him still out there trying to make things work. I
don't want I want to remember the best days of
von Miller.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Yeah, and I think that looked like Vaughn.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
His his strong skill set was to get off off
the line, and it's burst and his ability to bend
and wrap around that corner. I don't think he could
do that anymore. So his game has evolved. Here now
I know Vn pretty well. Here, Nick, I would imagine
that he's looking at this all time SAX leader list. Okay,
(10:51):
all time SAX leader Okay, Vaughn has one hundred and
twenty nine and a half. One hundred twenty nine and
a half. Okay, if he has eight more sacks, he'll
be in the top ten.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Is that for for Broncos?
Speaker 2 (11:04):
No?
Speaker 1 (11:04):
No, no, I'm all time NFL right now, he's sixteenth, But
he could he could pass a bunch of guys if
he just gets eight more sacks and look like his
Like top guy is DeMarcus ware right, DeMarcus has one
hundred and thirty eight and a half. So if he
gets nine more sacks, he'll tie DeMarcus. So I do
(11:28):
think that that matters to him. I mean, I don't
know that for sure, but I do think that. No, no, no,
I'm saying I don't think he's gonna retire, but I
don't think that. I don't think that it's time for
him to come back for the Broncos because some people
might say, well, hey, DeMarcus was in his uh you know,
twilight of his career and he came back and had
(11:49):
some productive time. You know, I don't think this is
a different deal. DeMarcus was a different type of pass
rusher than Vaughn was, so or is So I don't
think it's quite like that. Vaughn is gonna have to play, like,
I think, two more years to get into that top ten.
And I bet you that team could give him that
if he's willing to play for that amount of money.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
Well, Vaughn had six sacks last year. He needs eight.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
He needs eight, and then he'll be tied to get
into the top ten.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
So now this would make Vaughn, who's no longer an
every down player anymore.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
No, he's a third down specialist.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
And you can imagine that he's gonna miss some time.
You know, you know, maybe instead of seventeen games, he'll
play ten to eleven.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
See, that would mean that that Vaughn would have to
go to a team that has a great defense and
when I say a great defense upfront, second level back
in because if he's coming in on third down, your
third down specialist, you get paid to get after the
quarterback and that's a passing down.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Also, you need to go to a team that offensively
they score points at a high clip, because that means
is though where if your offense is scoring points, the
opposing offense, they balance attack.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
Is no longer there. They now have to pass the
ball and which will give you more opportunities. So, once again,
is there a team Willan Williams did.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
That, I would just go back to the Bills for
less money. Honestly, I think that's probably the best spot
for him there.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
He's already there.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
No, but the Bills already say you know what, hey, Vaughn.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Thank you for what he was making.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Okay, So maybe if he's willing to play for a
little bit less and he's uh, how much less?
Speaker 2 (13:36):
That's a good question.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
How much how much less?
Speaker 3 (13:39):
Okay, if you're Vonn, would you go back after making
absorbed amount of money?
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Would you go back to Buffalo or a team like Baltimore?
Help me?
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Maybe?
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Even Oh I almost say that.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
I didn't say that would hurt my eyes, I know.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
But we're looking at I new ways to get Vaughn
to those markets.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Yeah, right, so taking less money with teams that can
score points, Yeah, that may.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
Be part of those teams.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Yeah, and those teams he's got a chance to win
a third Super Bowl. Like, that's another incentive there. You know,
he's already past Derek Thomas, which is another one of
his heroes. You know, So Derek Thomas had one hundred
and twenty six and a half, so he's already three
ahead of him. So I think that I think that
von once again in that top ten if you ask me.
(14:33):
But and also if you ask me, I think she's
already a Hall of Famer.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
So, oh, you know, without a doubt, that's not even
in questions.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
The only thing in question is that to bring Vaughn
in on any team. But listen, let's talk about the Broncos.
Are you willing to stifle the growth of the Jonah.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Ellis No, I don't think you can do it.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
That's what I would love to see Von Beck, but
not at the calls financially, but also not at the
risk of sacrifice those guys, those young guys, you know, yeah,
their production.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
And also the new culture with the Broncos.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
You sort of turned the page from the previous era
of Denver football, and bringing Von back will sort of
I think muddy those waters a little bit. That's what
I think. I think you've turned the page and you
sort of said, Okay, we're moving on here. This is
a new era, and I don't think you want to
I want to mess with that, so I want to
mess with it. So anyway, that's an interesting look there
(15:30):
at a at a fan favorite, a sentimental player, and
I love Von I just want.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
To I want to bring him back here right now.
So anyway, a lot.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
More going on around the NFL, some big, big contracts,
some trades. We'll have the NFL six Pack next on
Broncos Country Tonight. Broncos Country Tonight. Spending your evening with us.
I'm Phil Malani filling in for Benjamin Albright out here
(16:00):
in studio with Nick ferguson big day all around the NFL.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Nick, not just for the Broncos. The Broncos obviously bolstering.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Their defense here, but there were a lot of big
moves all across the NFL. Got us thinking maybe this
would be a good time for an NFL six pack.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
What do you think.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Drink?
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Yeah, all right, Zach, take it away this time.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
For the NFL six path. I'm gonna drink a beer.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Insight and inside information you can't find anywhere else I know.
Six the top six NFL headlines on.
Speaker 5 (16:38):
Starting off here, we got the Seattle Seahawks fixing their
quarterback conundrum that they opened at the end of last
week by signing Sam Darnold to a three year deal
for the one hundred point five million dollars and fifty
million the Big five zero guaranteed. Do you guys think
the Seahawks ultimately got better or worse at quarter back
(17:00):
by Trady Gino Smith to the Raiders and signing Sam
Donald to this.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
Very lucrative deal.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
I think they got better, Nick, Sam Donald rejuvenated his
career a couple of years ago in San Francisco quarterback
coach there Clint Kobyac which Broncos fans are obviously aware of.
Now Clint Kubiak, the offensive coordinator in Seattle, reunited with
Sam Donald and look, I think that the framework of
(17:29):
this deal must have been sort of in place there
when they made the move with Gino, and I think
they get better here Sam Donald thirty five touchdowns, twelve
interceptions in a similar type of scheme there with Minnesota
last year.
Speaker 4 (17:45):
I don't know if they got better.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
I think for me is more or less like you
have more familiarity based on idea of when Sam Donalds
was in San Francisco, Clint Kubiak was a passing game
coordinator and then he went to Sam Donald went to
the Minnesota vikns. So now you essentially like a Kirk Cousins,
you are playing in the same offense that you are
(18:08):
familiar with, and then you now go to Seattle where
you're going to see a lot of play action, pass moves, keeps,
those types of things that are familiar with Mike Shanahan
type of offense. So did Seattle really get better? We
don't know, because some of your main weapons are not there.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
DK is not there.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
You don't get Tyler Lockett in the slat, so For me,
I have to wait to judge.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
To determine whether this was the best move for the
Seattle Seahawks.
Speaker 5 (18:35):
I fully agree on the scheme fit. I think that's
a great point, but I do worry a bit. You
know that offensive line was really rough. You talked about
all the missing weapons. The one tiblem we've seen with
Sam Donald is when the situation goes a little awry,
he can spiral, and I worry if that makes him
an uncomfortable fit.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
In San Francisco or Seattle.
Speaker 5 (18:54):
Two Houston Texans and Washington come and made a big
trade today, maybe one of the biggest moves of the day.
The Texans will be sending the Commanders their star left
tackle Larnie Tunzel, lock up the gas Masks and a
fourth round pick. Well, the Washington Commanders will be sending
back a second, a third, a fourth, and a seventh
(19:16):
round pick over these next two drafts, two picks in
either draft. Do you think the Texans are dooming CJ.
Strud By trading his best offensive lineman And what do
you think of the trade for the Commanders.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I like it for the Commanders that Adam Peters, another
Broncos guy here he's going all in like this whole offseason. There.
They're going after it here, guys, and I think that
that's smart. You know, there's a window here with Jaden
Daniels after what he did as a rookie. I like
Washington really going after it making the move with Tebo.
(19:49):
They're being aggressive. They feel like maybe they got a
shot here. Look, the Cowboys are sort of down, the
Giants are down. Obviously the Eagles just won of the
Super But maybe there's an opportunity here for Washington after
making it to the conference title game to take that
next step that you know, hey, the best time is
(20:10):
right now.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
So I like it for Washington.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
For Houston, I think they're reshifting maybe their focus a
little bit.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Look, c J.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Stroud was sacked fifty two times last year. It's not
exactly like he was getting a lot of blocking as
it was, So look, they got to refocus, reshuffle. They
get a lot of picks here, so maybe they're just
sort of a change in their focus a little bit.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
I think it's a Houston Texans are definitely doing the
reshift and changing their focus. They realize that they have
a talented quarterback and c J. Stroud like you said,
fifty two sacks last year that led that with the
second most in the league. The most was sixty eight
by Chicago Bears and then Caleb Williams, and you can
see what Ben Johnson is doing this offseason to kind
of put some protection in front of him. But I
(20:54):
think this goes well for Jane Daniels. He was sacked
forty seven times year, and Adam Peters knows that in
order to get this team to where they need to
get to, they have.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
To protect their quarterback.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
And Jane Dames does a great job of moving around
in the pocket to make his offensive line look great.
To me, I think this may hurt the Texans, but
it helps the Washington Commanders. At the same time, I.
Speaker 5 (21:20):
Think it really hurts the Texans. I don't know how
you're going to protect CJ. Stroud and his long term
development without an offensive line. We saw him regress this
last season, and now the line just got a heck
of a lot worse. Jade Daniels and the Commanders, though,
I really like what Adam Peters is doing here. They
were knocking on the door of the Super Bowl last
year and got dominated by the Eagles in the trenches.
The offensive line held up the whole season up until
(21:42):
that championship game. I think it says to me that,
you know, they're not looking to make small improvements, you know,
a small built They're ready to try and.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
Win right now.
Speaker 4 (21:54):
Sorry the Patriots.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
You mentioned the Chicago Bears one of the big spenders.
The Patriots were another one of today's big spenders. They
signed nine players in total, including them coaching Milton Williams
from the Panthers saying I drink your milkshake, as well
as Carlton Davis, Morgan, Moses, Harold Landry, Roberts Blaine and
Mac Hollins joining New England. Do you think these moves
(22:19):
are enough to make the Patriots contenders again after picking
top four in each of the last two seasons, And
I don't mean Super Bowl contenders, I mean, you know
they're fighting for a playoffs.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Well, I think that they're going to be respectable again, certainly, guys.
I mean I think that, you know, the last couple
of years obviously not what we're used to see in
there in New England, but look, Mike Rabel comes in there, they're.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Changing their focus there.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
They're spending a lot of money Hey, you worry about
your cap space later. Let's get back to being respectable,
being a tough football team. I think that that make
of these moves brings them back to being respectable. And
I think that they're going to be just another team
there in the A that's gonna be a tough opponent.
(23:03):
You know, they've got the fourth overall pick. Imagine if
they get a guy like Travis Hunter, you add that
into the mix. I mean, you're talking about a totally
revamped roster. Robert Splain that was a linebacker. A lot
of people thought maybe the Broncos would be interested in
You've seen him what he was able to do with
the Raiders. I think that maybe not contenders, they might
(23:23):
not make the playoffs, but they're going to be back
to being respectable.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Well, I'm gonna say this, I think the Patriots make
the playoffs this year because, yeah, Drake may Is, you
showed when the season was winding down he was kind
of whining into form. And now you add nine players
to the roster. To me, it changes a lot of
the philosophy. And you could tell Brabel is trying to
get back to those old Patriots ways, being tough, gritty,
(23:49):
in your face type of defense. And the only way
you could do that is bring in those types of
players that share the same of philosophy. So don't be
surprised once again if the New England Pagetriots are in
the playoffs.
Speaker 5 (24:02):
Yeah, I think it's just good to uplift the floor
of the roster, get him a little bit respectable. I
do think it might tip their hand a little bit
about pick number four. You've got Christian Gonzalez. Now you
just handed out a lot of money to Carlton Davis.
Both those guys ideally play on the boundary. Travis Hunter
is a little bit of a lighter cornerback. I think
it makes it a lot more likely the Patriots go
(24:22):
Travis Hunter right there.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
Let's see, before.
Speaker 5 (24:28):
Justin Fields gets another chance, it'll be his third team
during his stint in the NFL. He signed a two
year deal with the New York Foot All right, now,
that's the NewYork coopball butts in New York Jets Gane
Green worth forty million dollars with thirty million guaranteed over
these next two seasons. Do you think third times the
charm for Justin Fields? And he finally cements himself as
(24:50):
a starter in this league or is he just the
bridge quarterback for the New York Jets.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
I like a two year deal here.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
I think that that's a good fit for Justin Fields.
See what he can do? Okay, that's what I think, Nick.
I mean, he was able to clearly show off his
athleticism when he was with Chicago, did some nice things
in a couple of games last year with Pittsburgh. Look
when they benched him and made the move to Russ,
I think that the trust was gone there. So I
(25:18):
think that Justin was always going to leave, And now
he's in a nice spot where, hey, maybe there's not
the highest expectations.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
For the Jets.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
The Jets are going through a complete overhaul here with
their team, and you know, bring in Justin Fields. I
know you like a quarterback who can run, Nick, so hey,
he can do that, he can distribute the ball a
little bit.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
Why not?
Speaker 1 (25:39):
Yeah, I mean, let's see, let's see what he could
do and buys some time there in New York. They
got a guy they can lean on now, and if
he can produce, you ride with him.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
If not a year from now, you're looking, Hey, you're.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
Talking about buying time.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
That's something exactly that that offensive line did not do
last year for Aaron Rodgers, who was sacked forty times. Now,
I do, like myself some mobile quarterbacks, and for Justin Fields,
he has Rod Taylor as a backup who has experienced
in this league being a mobile quarterback. And when you
look at the help that's around him, Reese Hall and
(26:14):
Byron Brilliant Allen, those are two guys at the running
back position that can really take the pressure off of him.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
And you should see a more Ohio.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
State offense where we see a lot of RPOs.
Speaker 5 (26:25):
Yeah, and he's got that built in chemistry with Garrett
Wilson there the top flight receiver. I wonder if that
is enough to satisfy Garrett Wilson though, ultimate what you
Justin Fields has been up and down as an NFL
starting quarterback, and at the end of this season, Garrett
Wilson said, if Aaron Rodgers is coming back.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
I'm out of here.
Speaker 5 (26:41):
So he seems a little unhappy. He wants some good
quarterback play. I don't know if Fields will be enough
for That's something I'm watching, But.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
That's where the familiarity comes in and all you have
to do you have a guy you played with and
throwing you a lot of passes.
Speaker 4 (26:53):
It makes you happy. If you're a wide receiver, that's true.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
That touches makes everyone happy.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
Five.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
All right.
Speaker 5 (27:01):
The Chicago Bears, like the Patriots, we talked about them
a little earlier, hyper aggressive, very active. Today on the
first day of the legal tampoerine window, the Chicago Bears,
also before free agency opened, made two big trades on
offensive line for Jonah Jackson.
Speaker 4 (27:16):
And Joe Thuney.
Speaker 5 (27:17):
Today, they continued to build on that by signing top
center in the free agent class, Drew Damon from the
Atlanta Falcons. They also added two of the most expensive
defensive linemen today, with Thio Odeno from the Colts and
Grady Jarrett, the Star, also from the Falcons. Is this enough,
in your opinion to help turn the Bears around and
get them back to respectability in a loaded NFC North
(27:40):
Division or are they still a year away in their
build from contending in that loaded Con division.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
I don't think they're going to knock off the Lions.
I mean, I think right now you got to say
the Lions are the favorite, you know, with the Eagles
to make it to the.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Super Bowl in the NFC.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
But I do think that the Bears have made a
lot of good moves this offseason. I mean they're bringing in,
you know, a dynamic offensive play caller and Ben Johnson,
Caleb Williams. I mean, that's the best thing you could
do for him, right, get a stability at your play
calling position.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
And get him an offensive line.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
That's what you want, and that's what you got to
do if you're the Bears, to give your number one
overall pick a chance to go out there.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
And have success.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
They still got weapons on the outside, So I think
that things are going to turn around for Chicago, but gosh,
that division. We don't know what Minnesota is going to
be like, you know, with JJ McCarthy coming in here.
But I certainly you know the Packers are going to
be good, and you know the Lions are going to
be great.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
So I think they're still a little bit away.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
I think Van Johnson is doing a great job and
Ryan Pole so far, because the offensive line was an issue,
sixty eight sacks so far.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
They had a new center and they got two new guards.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
And that's the quickest way between the straight between two
points is a straight line. So if you can protect
in that interior you give now and give camble Winsman oportunity.
So I like what the Bears have done this far.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
Six last one for you guys here, and we're taking
it back home to the Denver Broncos. NFL dot COM's
Greg Rosenthal ranks Amari Cooper, Stefan Diggs, Evan Ingram and
running backs JK. Dobbins and Rico Dwell as the best
available weapons on the.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
Free agent market.
Speaker 5 (29:27):
You've been talking about how you maybe want to add
some weapons for bow Knicks. Would you like to see
the Denver Broncos target any of these players?
Speaker 1 (29:33):
And if so, who I say, No, I go draft
maybe Ingram. If you bring in Ingram, then you've answered
your tight end. You've got some flexibility. There could still
draft a tight end, but at least you don't have to.
And I would build on the offensive side of through
the draft.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
For me, I still like Evan Ingram if they can
pull it off if the Chargers don't know how sign him.
Speaker 4 (29:55):
But also JK. Dobbins. I mean JK. Dobbins was a
problem for the Broncos, but.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
During their matchup and to bring in a veteran guy,
I mean that definitely helps, because I mean, you do
have some veterman guys a running back on the Broncos roster,
but you still can get a veteran guy who's dynamic
and both running and passing game, and you still go
out and grab a guy in free agency as well,
or I'm not free agency, but as far as the
draft as well.
Speaker 5 (30:19):
Rico dowdle. You know, I really like him at running
back too. I think he's a smaller name in that
Cowboys running back room. Struggled early on in the season,
but I thought he closed the year really well. And
I think if you watched week ten to Week seventeen,
or like week twelve to week seventeen, ric o'dowdell and
Aaron Jones, I think Rico Jaha might have been the
better between the two during that stretch.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
I mean, I definitely agree with that.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
But once again, looking at what the Broncos and trying
to accomplish, and I always go back to what Sean
Payne did in New Orleans, and I said, well, Darren
Sproz and those running backs were a key cod and
allowing Drew Brees to dump the ball off into show
a passing game.
Speaker 4 (30:56):
I mean for me, JK.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
Dobbins would be a great guy, great fit for that
and not and not in the third down specialist type
of role, but a guy who can be your ever
down guy while you bring a young runner back along.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
I like Dobbins, Yeah, I mean, he seems like he's
answered some of his injury problems, so yeah, I like,
I like go with Dobbins maybe.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
Yeah. I think he.
Speaker 5 (31:17):
Looks good this year, and you'll be getting him another
year removed from those really devastating lower body injuries.
Speaker 4 (31:22):
He might even get a better version next year. And
he's a better thing about it.
Speaker 3 (31:25):
The longest, the longer he stays on the freedge market,
his prize goes down even better.
Speaker 2 (31:31):
Achilles.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
You know, you gotta get these guys right and then
uh and then you see what they can produce.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
You know.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
What a first day here for the Broncos bringing in
in tell Noah halfung Ga, Drake Greenlaw bolstering that defense.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
It was awesome to see.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
We'll have to find out what day two of the
legal tampering brings for Dick Ferguson and Zach Seekers. I
am film aline. This has been a Broncos country tonight
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.