October 29, 2025 • 20 mins
Kevin Harlan of Westwood One and CBS joins Dave Softy Mahler to talk about what he saw from the Washington Commanders on Monday night, the wide open NFC currently, who gets his MVP vote right now, Chiefs-Bills this weekend, and a Myles Garrett trade.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
They are NFL champions.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
The seattlesy Hawks have one Super Bowl forty eight.
Speaker 3 (00:05):
As part of our non stop coverage of the NFL,
this is Softy's weekly visit with Kevin.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Harlan's a pulldozer.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
He's a pace brought to you by Twin Peaks in
Tuck Willa open every Sunday morning, just in time for kickoff.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
He was like a pinball haanging off Bunny. He's a
twenty three yard catch.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
It run catch every game, every bite and every sip
only a Twin Peaks Tuck Willa hit.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
The touchdown, hit the touchdown.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
HiT's grab bike purse. Now with Kevin, here's Softy.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
He smit the Washington Jams shotgun snap, here comes a
four man rush.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
He looks rough. Now first from the pocket line.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Drive Enson car touchdown, A two handed hell that I
grabbed Kelsey a yard teeping the ends old touchdown. And
that is his eightieth of his career, his Hall of
Fame career.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Oh there you go. That voice. That's silky smooth voice,
the voice.
Speaker 5 (00:59):
Of the Natational Football League, the NFL on CBS, the
NFL on Westwood One, the ncub A tournament, Amazon and
some video game somewhere man, played by some kids I
don't know. Brought to you always by our friends at
Twin Peaks Tuck Well. A big thanks to them for
stepping up and meeting Kevin Harlan's gigantic financial demands. Here
(01:20):
he is once again the voice of football in America.
Our friend, Kevin Harlan, How are you, man?
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Good? I'm coming back up. We're getting another CBS scheme
up next week against Arizona. But and when I said
something to you said, uh no, I'm gonna be at
the University of Wisconsin.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
That's right, We're heading out there.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
Yeah, yeah, I think you're planning this stuff knowing I'm
not going to be here.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
To be totally honest with.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
You, Oh as far as far as you know, I didn't.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Hey, look, man, you know what. People love having you
on the call for the Hawks.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
And when I go back and watch the watch the
tape of the game, when I get home a hopefully
went over to Badgers in Wisconsin, I'll get to hear
your voice, which makes an even better.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
But man, lots of stuff going on.
Speaker 5 (02:07):
We got the Commanders on Sunday night before you come
out here for the game with Arizona. You just saw
them on Monday get pasted by the Chiefs. But this
will be a different Commander team that we're gonna see
because Jade and Daniels might end up playing this Sunday night.
So why don't you give all of us first of all,
take and what you saw from the Commanders in person
(02:27):
on Monday.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Well, they were injured and they didn't of course, you
have the quarterback, but he's uh, he may be back
as you aller too, and and that's gonna be a big,
a big deal. He makes the team go, and they
were missing him. They did get back Deebo Shamuel, and
they did get back their wide receiver McLaurin. And they
are two playmaking obstacles for any defense to jangle with.
(02:51):
They're they're they're used in various ways. They're incredibly skilled.
They are game changers, and I would think that that
will be you know, job one is maybe even more
of the quarterback. Let's watch those two guys and then
you Samuel in a lot of different ways out of
the backfield, on bubble screens, on quick lateral throws, all
(03:14):
over the place, wide in the slot. He wears a
lot of different hats and McLaurin is one of the
top I think, when healthy is one of the top
eight receivers in pro football. So he's great quarterback. We
know is a celebrated second year player, but there's a
lot of tape on him from last year. These coordinators,
(03:35):
these defensive coaches, Dave, they spend all off season knowing
they're gonna play him, figuring out what was he doing
well and what we can do to stop him. Last
year when he comes in, there wasn't a lot of
tape on him, the college tape, you know what airs
on a statement at Miami, but they didn't know exactly
what he was all about. And sure enough, he has
(03:56):
I think met a little bit more resistance this year.
And he's been three games too. He's not been healthy
and that's a big part of maybe why the team
is staggering a bit. They were without three of the
top four defensive linemen last week against the Chiefs and
that was a factor. So they've got but you know
you're gonna see Bobby Wagner again, yep. And to me,
(04:17):
he looks like he always did. He's quick, reads well,
makes plays. A Hall of Famer to be for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
No question, maybe the best middle linebacker of all time.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
I know a lot of people will debate that with
your guys like Singletary and you know whatever, but it's
it's amazing. You know how long it's been since Bobby
Wagner has been in Seattle. It's been, you know, twenty
twenty three, as he was here through twenty one, took
off for a year with the Rams, played well for them,
and now he's kicking ass again at the age of
you know what, you know, thirty five years old, for
(04:48):
God's sakes.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
But Kevin, I'm looking at the.
Speaker 5 (04:50):
NFC and I see six teams that are separated by
a half a game. Green Bay, Philly, Tampa, the Hawks,
the Lions, the Rams, and the Niners are right by
eyeing them at five and three. I mean, I think
we probably should say, as of right now, at least
on you know, paper record wise, the Colts are the
best team in the a f C. The Chiefs may
have something to say about that later on. But who's
(05:11):
the best team in the NFC, Because to me, I
can't figure it out.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Well, I'm gonna go Green Bay and I just I
just think their second half on the road against Pittsburgh
and what that game meant for both franchise, but especially
the Packers. Pason Rogers that that was a huge win.
Their their second half performance was phenomenal. And and they've
got all their parts and they're healthy and they're really
(05:37):
playing well. And I think they have found exactly what
they are. They've they've learned how to use Micah Parsons
and that that has been huge. I would say that
the NFC right now, and this has not been set
for a couple of years, NFC is stronger than the AFC.
And what's her in the AFC is Burrow being out
at Sincy, Lamar Jackson missing a handful of games with
(05:59):
Baltimore when since he is what they are with their quarterback,
and the same with Lamar. We've got two conferences that
have got, you know, six, seven, eight teams that are
all worthy of making it to Santa Clara. They've got
that kind of talent. And we got half the season ago,
a little more than half the season to go. But
(06:20):
I would I would probably listen. The Rams are scary
and Tampa didn't play all that well here last couple
of weeks. They had a big win. We know up
in your place, and that is their quarterback isn't playing well.
The MVP is Jonathan Taylor of the Colts through eight
eight weeks of the season, and I really think that
(06:42):
that the end of the year is going to be
about as thrilling as the first eight weeks to have been.
These first eight weeks, these first seven weeks of the
season have been some of the best NFL football that
I can recall to begin a year. Maybe the best ever.
I don't know. I mean, I that's clearly subjective and
probably nothing statistically that could back that up. But to me,
(07:05):
we've had more exciting games, bigger offensive bulges, some great
individual performances, some surprises, some reclamation projects that have come
along and done a great job. You know it first
hand with Sam up there in Seattle, YEP. So I
just think these first six, seven, eight weeks of the
season have been phenomenal, and I think we've got more
(07:26):
of it in store of it. Why the rest of the.
Speaker 5 (07:28):
Season, Kevin, Why Jonathan Taylor over Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones
somebody like that. He's obviously on pace to put up
crazy numbers for Indianapolis. Projected for eighteen hundred and twenty
six touchdowns. But why the running back over to quarterback?
Speaker 2 (07:46):
You know, in this league. We talked to these coaches,
Dave the two things they always say. You know what,
if we ask him what do you need to do
to win? They said the same two things. Every player,
every coach, every everybody that we talked to. We got
to run the ball and we got to stop the run.
(08:07):
And Indianapolis has a running back who is really helping
that quarterback. And a quarterback's best friend is a good
running game, and the Colts have got it. So it's
hand in hand why Jones is playing so well, because
Taylor is playing so great. Yeah, and I just think
that there are a few quarterbacks that can do it
(08:29):
on their own without help from the running game. But
the Colts with that record best record in football, clearly
showing that that running game is making all the different
and it's helping the defense too. A running game is
a funny thing. They don't put much, you know, on
you know, crafting these running backs high. They don't make
(08:50):
them the highest paid player on the offense. But there
is an argument to be made that when you've got
a running back who is extraordinary, that he affects the
success of the line because these guys get momentum and
it helps their pass blocking when they're run blocking with
success every play, And that's what the culture doing, and
(09:12):
it helps the defense. The defense can rest drives her longer,
and it just seems the toughen a team. I can't
explain it except for those little examples that get right there.
A lot of it is probably just feel and subconscious.
But when you can run the ball, your team more
times than not has got a winning record and is
(09:36):
in there competing and is relevant. And if you can't
run the ball, you are finding yourself in trouble. Now,
there are quarterbacks who run, but you're living on the
edge in that world, and that is that can be
a loser's game. If you're relying on a running quarterback
all the time, that's not that we've seen him before,
and they have no sustainability. They get injured, they get
worn down, they're not as good passing the ball. So
(09:57):
you need a running game with a comp a quarterback.
And the Cults are getting both right now. They're getting
an outstanding running game and they're getting a very very
good quarterback play from a reclamation project kind of like
with Sam showing up there and you mentioned Baker Mayfield,
he's doing the same for champions. He didn't play all
that great this past weekend, and didn't play that all
(10:19):
that great against Detroit on Monday Night a couple of
weeks ago, but he is he is legitimately right now
having an incredible season and at the very core of
why the Buccaneers are playing well well.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
Kevin Harlan's with us on the radio show, and you
mentioned the run game. It's kind of what is making
what's happening up here in Seattle a little bit amazing.
They're five and two and they really haven't run the
ball well at all the entire year. So we'll see
if that's sustainable. But you know, normally Chiefs Bills is
the biggest game of the week by far, and maybe
it is. I'm just going to assume that for where
(10:53):
will Kevin be for TV on Sunday? That Romo and
Nance are calling that game for CBS on Sunday?
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Do I have that right?
Speaker 5 (10:59):
By the way, is the A team on the Chiefs
Bills game from Buffalo?
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Yeah? But I could have asked ten people on the
street and they would have known that so that you
don't don't think you highly, don't don't don't think you
highly of yourself.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
This Chiefs team, you saw him on Monday, I don't know.
It's another big one between these two rivals, buddy, and
that is Kansas City back. Are they back after what
you saw Monday?
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Yeah? They are, they are. They've got a three headed
monster running back. They've got the fastest receiving corps as
a group in the NFL. Mahomes is playing a different
kind of football. I think he has more trust in
his line. I think he is not thinking as much.
I think he was so buried under minutia that he
(11:43):
wasn't reacting like he'd normally had early in his career.
And I think he's reverted to now, you know, going
back to being a little bit more. He's always off schedule.
We know that, and that's great because he can pull
it off. But I just think he he's playing the
game more at ease, if that makes sense. He still
(12:04):
has a frenetic style about him, that's just the way
he is, but but I sense he's more at ease
with how he's going into games, what he expects to see,
how he's going to react, and he knows he's got
three receivers. Now they've got Roshie Rice back, and they
couple him with Worthy and Hollywood Brown and in a
(12:25):
Hall of Fame tight end, by the way, really who
looks completely different now than he did this time last
year in Travis Kelsey. And they can run the ball.
Like I said, they're they're they're really, they're they're legit.
And their defense has always been good. They're the only
team in the league that's top five in offense and defense.
And they did you know, they lost a couple of
(12:46):
close games out of the blocks, so we all get
that began oh and two. But I think what they've
won five of six and and they are really they
have found their stride and this this is the team
we thought we'd see. I think there's a little embarrassment
about how the Super Bowl went last year against Philadelphia,
and I think it brought renewed vigor to the team
(13:09):
as they approached this season.
Speaker 5 (13:10):
Yeah, well, Kevin, the trade deadline is coming up on
Tuesday of next week, so the Lion has just got
done a deal with Aiden Hutchinson, giving him like a
gajillion dollars a week, one hundred and forty million guaranteed whatever,
something like that. And now there's just this thought going
around that, hey man, the Browns are terrible. They're two
and six. Miles Garrett's playing like a maniac. Are they
(13:30):
better off trading him? Do you think the Browns would
even consider trading Miles Garrett? And if somebody was asked
for two first round draft picks and more, is there
a potential for him getting moved and would you do
move like that?
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Well, there's a couple of things about Garrett. First of all,
he is he is on a Hall of Fame path
right now. But I just read something the other day
back this morning about how his deportment around the organization
is not great. He's late for meetings, he is a
no show for some This is reporting from what was
in I think The Athletic this morning, from a reliable reporter,
(14:07):
that he is he is a no show for some
team activities. I don't know if this is a way
of him saying I'm frustrated. I'm not going to be
the person you want me to be unless you show
me that you're going to do some things to help
this organization. And clearly the organization has been mismanaged, and
(14:28):
they're living in a world right now where they need
they need volume and not just one one. Miles Garrett
is great, but he's not winning them games. So I
guess you'd have to think that he would bring at
least two first round picks and maybe even a starter. Now.
I think he's that good he is, you know, as
(14:51):
as that position goes the most one of the top
three most valuable positions on your team, quarterback being one
of them, maybe at a shutdown corner ever, but those
guys can can change a team. We see what Micah
Parsons has done for the Green Bay defense, and if
there's a contending team that is like one gigantic playmaker away,
(15:16):
I think that we know it's a win now league,
and you make the deal and maybe you sacrifice a
couple of first routers in the beginning. There's no guarantee
on what you're going to get in those drafts, but
there is a pretty good guarantee that if you're bringing
Miles Garrett into your organization and put them in the
right culture, that you can straighten out the things off
the field and you're gonna get the same performance on
(15:37):
the field.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
Yeah, Well, the other trade target conversation. A lot of
conversation has been circling around Kirk Cousins obviously lost his
job last year. Penix is on the way back. Maybe
this weekend. I mean, if you're a quarterback needy team,
do you think about trading for Kirk Cousins or is
that contract still problematic in your mind?
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Well, it's a gigantic but that's that's the cost of
doing business in the league. If you don't have a quarterback,
you know you've got room because if you do have
a quarterback, you're paying him that kind of money. So
now what we were there in Atlanta this past week
and saw that game against Miami and Cousins did not
look great. Now, he is not practiced within one offense
(16:21):
all season until this week, the focus has been on Pennis.
Cousins has been an afterthought, scout team quarterback. He's not
played with the starters until a couple of practices this
past week. I think there's still something there. He's incredible
in terms of leadership and for the locker room. He's
a breath of fresh air. He is universally loved wherever
(16:44):
he's played, and if your team is lacking quarterback and
has everything set around him. I think that's a move
you got to look to make. He's thirty seven, he
could give you two to three more good years. Well
you figure out that position. But if your team is
ready to go, and I guess I'm trying to think
of the Vikings. If your team is ready to move
and he's got a history there, why not bring him
(17:06):
back in. Listen, the Vikings let go of two. They
let go two unbelievable quarterbacks last year, Daniel Jones who
never played for him but was on the roster and
Sam Darnold. Like they had their guys. Now they're in
quarterback hell. They lost Carson Wentz, they got an unproven
(17:26):
JJ McCarthy who's been very ordinary in his beginning. I mean,
there's a lot going on and that team won fourteen
games last year, So why not why not make the
deal for Cousins, bring him in, take that salary, figure
it out, maybe rework it or something. Get him in there.
See if you can salvage this season because you got
a tough division you're going to have to get out
(17:47):
of with Green Bay and Detroit, and maybe rekindle what
you had. Let him finish off up there. Let him
bring that young quarterback because the quarterback JJ is really
just a rookie. He's only played two NFL games, Like,
he's not going to quit. The life's not going to
go on and he's not that's not going to happen,
So I that would be a prime target, I would think.
(18:09):
But maybe they got another vision and the pretty smart
people up there, so that will be one of the
more interesting developments to see what happens.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
Because yeah, well the only other vision would be just
a tank for the rest of the year and get
as high a draft pick as possible. I'm totally with you.
So all right, here we go. It's time for where
will Kevin be for TV on Sunday? We've already established
that Romo and Nance are in Buffalo for Kansas City
and the Buffalo Bills, And I'm gonna go ahead and
just predict right out of the gate here a pretty
big game at ten o'clock in the morning on Sunday
(18:37):
morning on CBS. I think you'll be in Pittsburgh for
Indy and the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Am I right?
Speaker 2 (18:43):
No?
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Did?
Speaker 5 (18:46):
How could that be Indianapolis with the MVP at Pittsburgh?
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Aaron Rodgers, what in the world. How can you not
be in Pittsburgh?
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Where are you San Francisco at the Giant Fine whatever?
Speaker 1 (19:04):
You know?
Speaker 2 (19:05):
You know, when I was doing that game and the
other day up there with Jampa Bay, and I was
out walking among the people down the concourse, down the
ramps with with the with the sand, A couple of
people noticed that I have a CBS bag, and they said, hey,
can I ask you a question? Why does Dave keep
bringing up like where you're gonna be rocket? I said,
you know what, that's a great question. I don't know.
(19:26):
And then in Unison, like about ten penc we don't care,
and we don't want to know. We don't care.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
I don't believe it.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
It waste valuable airtime. I said, I get you. I
get you. Then I walked. I walked with the people
out of the out of the out of the building.
Speaker 5 (19:40):
Yeah right, I'm sure you did through your super secret
VIP exit. All right, Kevin, you're the man. Great stuff.
Enjoy the weekend. Sorry, we're gonna miss each other again
next weekend, but we'll talk in a week all.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Right, man, Okay, buddy, have a great drift to Madison
and always fun.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
All right, Bud Kevin Harlan with us.
Speaker 5 (19:58):
We're going to break a lot more to get to
to busy, busy Wednesday, Mike Florio again. Hear from him
in the six pm hour, coming up on ninety three
three kJ R f M
They are NFL champions.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
The seattlesy Hawks have one Super Bowl forty eight.
Speaker 3 (00:05):
As part of our non stop coverage of the NFL,
this is Softy's weekly visit with Kevin.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Harlan's a pulldozer.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
He's a pace brought to you by Twin Peaks in
Tuck Willa open every Sunday morning, just in time for kickoff.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
He was like a pinball haanging off Bunny. He's a
twenty three yard catch.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
It run catch every game, every bite and every sip
only a Twin Peaks Tuck Willa hit.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
The touchdown, hit the touchdown.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
HiT's grab bike purse. Now with Kevin, here's Softy.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
He smit the Washington Jams shotgun snap, here comes a
four man rush.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
He looks rough. Now first from the pocket line.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Drive Enson car touchdown, A two handed hell that I
grabbed Kelsey a yard teeping the ends old touchdown. And
that is his eightieth of his career, his Hall of
Fame career.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Oh there you go. That voice. That's silky smooth voice,
the voice.
Speaker 5 (00:59):
Of the Natational Football League, the NFL on CBS, the
NFL on Westwood One, the ncub A tournament, Amazon and
some video game somewhere man, played by some kids I
don't know. Brought to you always by our friends at
Twin Peaks Tuck Well. A big thanks to them for
stepping up and meeting Kevin Harlan's gigantic financial demands. Here
(01:20):
he is once again the voice of football in America.
Our friend, Kevin Harlan, How are you, man?
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Good? I'm coming back up. We're getting another CBS scheme
up next week against Arizona. But and when I said
something to you said, uh no, I'm gonna be at
the University of Wisconsin.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
That's right, We're heading out there.
Speaker 5 (01:41):
Yeah, yeah, I think you're planning this stuff knowing I'm
not going to be here.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
To be totally honest with.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
You, Oh as far as far as you know, I didn't.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Hey, look, man, you know what. People love having you
on the call for the Hawks.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
And when I go back and watch the watch the
tape of the game, when I get home a hopefully
went over to Badgers in Wisconsin, I'll get to hear
your voice, which makes an even better.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
But man, lots of stuff going on.
Speaker 5 (02:07):
We got the Commanders on Sunday night before you come
out here for the game with Arizona. You just saw
them on Monday get pasted by the Chiefs. But this
will be a different Commander team that we're gonna see
because Jade and Daniels might end up playing this Sunday night.
So why don't you give all of us first of all,
take and what you saw from the Commanders in person
(02:27):
on Monday.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Well, they were injured and they didn't of course, you
have the quarterback, but he's uh, he may be back
as you aller too, and and that's gonna be a big,
a big deal. He makes the team go, and they
were missing him. They did get back Deebo Shamuel, and
they did get back their wide receiver McLaurin. And they
are two playmaking obstacles for any defense to jangle with.
(02:51):
They're they're they're used in various ways. They're incredibly skilled.
They are game changers, and I would think that that
will be you know, job one is maybe even more
of the quarterback. Let's watch those two guys and then
you Samuel in a lot of different ways out of
the backfield, on bubble screens, on quick lateral throws, all
(03:14):
over the place, wide in the slot. He wears a
lot of different hats and McLaurin is one of the
top I think, when healthy is one of the top
eight receivers in pro football. So he's great quarterback. We
know is a celebrated second year player, but there's a
lot of tape on him from last year. These coordinators,
(03:35):
these defensive coaches, Dave, they spend all off season knowing
they're gonna play him, figuring out what was he doing
well and what we can do to stop him. Last
year when he comes in, there wasn't a lot of
tape on him, the college tape, you know what airs
on a statement at Miami, but they didn't know exactly
what he was all about. And sure enough, he has
(03:56):
I think met a little bit more resistance this year.
And he's been three games too. He's not been healthy
and that's a big part of maybe why the team
is staggering a bit. They were without three of the
top four defensive linemen last week against the Chiefs and
that was a factor. So they've got but you know
you're gonna see Bobby Wagner again, yep. And to me,
(04:17):
he looks like he always did. He's quick, reads well,
makes plays. A Hall of Famer to be for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
No question, maybe the best middle linebacker of all time.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
I know a lot of people will debate that with
your guys like Singletary and you know whatever, but it's
it's amazing. You know how long it's been since Bobby
Wagner has been in Seattle. It's been, you know, twenty
twenty three, as he was here through twenty one, took
off for a year with the Rams, played well for them,
and now he's kicking ass again at the age of
you know what, you know, thirty five years old, for
(04:48):
God's sakes.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
But Kevin, I'm looking at the.
Speaker 5 (04:50):
NFC and I see six teams that are separated by
a half a game. Green Bay, Philly, Tampa, the Hawks,
the Lions, the Rams, and the Niners are right by
eyeing them at five and three. I mean, I think
we probably should say, as of right now, at least
on you know, paper record wise, the Colts are the
best team in the a f C. The Chiefs may
have something to say about that later on. But who's
(05:11):
the best team in the NFC, Because to me, I
can't figure it out.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Well, I'm gonna go Green Bay and I just I
just think their second half on the road against Pittsburgh
and what that game meant for both franchise, but especially
the Packers. Pason Rogers that that was a huge win.
Their their second half performance was phenomenal. And and they've
got all their parts and they're healthy and they're really
(05:37):
playing well. And I think they have found exactly what
they are. They've they've learned how to use Micah Parsons
and that that has been huge. I would say that
the NFC right now, and this has not been set
for a couple of years, NFC is stronger than the AFC.
And what's her in the AFC is Burrow being out
at Sincy, Lamar Jackson missing a handful of games with
(05:59):
Baltimore when since he is what they are with their quarterback,
and the same with Lamar. We've got two conferences that
have got, you know, six, seven, eight teams that are
all worthy of making it to Santa Clara. They've got
that kind of talent. And we got half the season ago,
a little more than half the season to go. But
(06:20):
I would I would probably listen. The Rams are scary
and Tampa didn't play all that well here last couple
of weeks. They had a big win. We know up
in your place, and that is their quarterback isn't playing well.
The MVP is Jonathan Taylor of the Colts through eight
eight weeks of the season, and I really think that
(06:42):
that the end of the year is going to be
about as thrilling as the first eight weeks to have been.
These first eight weeks, these first seven weeks of the
season have been some of the best NFL football that
I can recall to begin a year. Maybe the best ever.
I don't know. I mean, I that's clearly subjective and
probably nothing statistically that could back that up. But to me,
(07:05):
we've had more exciting games, bigger offensive bulges, some great
individual performances, some surprises, some reclamation projects that have come
along and done a great job. You know it first
hand with Sam up there in Seattle, YEP. So I
just think these first six, seven, eight weeks of the
season have been phenomenal, and I think we've got more
(07:26):
of it in store of it. Why the rest of the.
Speaker 5 (07:28):
Season, Kevin, Why Jonathan Taylor over Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones
somebody like that. He's obviously on pace to put up
crazy numbers for Indianapolis. Projected for eighteen hundred and twenty
six touchdowns. But why the running back over to quarterback?
Speaker 2 (07:46):
You know, in this league. We talked to these coaches,
Dave the two things they always say. You know what,
if we ask him what do you need to do
to win? They said the same two things. Every player,
every coach, every everybody that we talked to. We got
to run the ball and we got to stop the run.
(08:07):
And Indianapolis has a running back who is really helping
that quarterback. And a quarterback's best friend is a good
running game, and the Colts have got it. So it's
hand in hand why Jones is playing so well, because
Taylor is playing so great. Yeah, and I just think
that there are a few quarterbacks that can do it
(08:29):
on their own without help from the running game. But
the Colts with that record best record in football, clearly
showing that that running game is making all the different
and it's helping the defense too. A running game is
a funny thing. They don't put much, you know, on
you know, crafting these running backs high. They don't make
(08:50):
them the highest paid player on the offense. But there
is an argument to be made that when you've got
a running back who is extraordinary, that he affects the
success of the line because these guys get momentum and
it helps their pass blocking when they're run blocking with
success every play, And that's what the culture doing, and
(09:12):
it helps the defense. The defense can rest drives her longer,
and it just seems the toughen a team. I can't
explain it except for those little examples that get right there.
A lot of it is probably just feel and subconscious.
But when you can run the ball, your team more
times than not has got a winning record and is
(09:36):
in there competing and is relevant. And if you can't
run the ball, you are finding yourself in trouble. Now,
there are quarterbacks who run, but you're living on the
edge in that world, and that is that can be
a loser's game. If you're relying on a running quarterback
all the time, that's not that we've seen him before,
and they have no sustainability. They get injured, they get
worn down, they're not as good passing the ball. So
(09:57):
you need a running game with a comp a quarterback.
And the Cults are getting both right now. They're getting
an outstanding running game and they're getting a very very
good quarterback play from a reclamation project kind of like
with Sam showing up there and you mentioned Baker Mayfield,
he's doing the same for champions. He didn't play all
that great this past weekend, and didn't play that all
(10:19):
that great against Detroit on Monday Night a couple of
weeks ago, but he is he is legitimately right now
having an incredible season and at the very core of
why the Buccaneers are playing well well.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
Kevin Harlan's with us on the radio show, and you
mentioned the run game. It's kind of what is making
what's happening up here in Seattle a little bit amazing.
They're five and two and they really haven't run the
ball well at all the entire year. So we'll see
if that's sustainable. But you know, normally Chiefs Bills is
the biggest game of the week by far, and maybe
it is. I'm just going to assume that for where
(10:53):
will Kevin be for TV on Sunday? That Romo and
Nance are calling that game for CBS on Sunday?
Speaker 1 (10:59):
Do I have that right?
Speaker 5 (10:59):
By the way, is the A team on the Chiefs
Bills game from Buffalo?
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Yeah? But I could have asked ten people on the
street and they would have known that so that you
don't don't think you highly, don't don't don't think you
highly of yourself.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
This Chiefs team, you saw him on Monday, I don't know.
It's another big one between these two rivals, buddy, and
that is Kansas City back. Are they back after what
you saw Monday?
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Yeah? They are, they are. They've got a three headed
monster running back. They've got the fastest receiving corps as
a group in the NFL. Mahomes is playing a different
kind of football. I think he has more trust in
his line. I think he is not thinking as much.
I think he was so buried under minutia that he
(11:43):
wasn't reacting like he'd normally had early in his career.
And I think he's reverted to now, you know, going
back to being a little bit more. He's always off schedule.
We know that, and that's great because he can pull
it off. But I just think he he's playing the
game more at ease, if that makes sense. He still
(12:04):
has a frenetic style about him, that's just the way
he is, but but I sense he's more at ease
with how he's going into games, what he expects to see,
how he's going to react, and he knows he's got
three receivers. Now they've got Roshie Rice back, and they
couple him with Worthy and Hollywood Brown and in a
(12:25):
Hall of Fame tight end, by the way, really who
looks completely different now than he did this time last
year in Travis Kelsey. And they can run the ball.
Like I said, they're they're they're really, they're they're legit.
And their defense has always been good. They're the only
team in the league that's top five in offense and defense.
And they did you know, they lost a couple of
(12:46):
close games out of the blocks, so we all get
that began oh and two. But I think what they've
won five of six and and they are really they
have found their stride and this this is the team
we thought we'd see. I think there's a little embarrassment
about how the Super Bowl went last year against Philadelphia,
and I think it brought renewed vigor to the team
(13:09):
as they approached this season.
Speaker 5 (13:10):
Yeah, well, Kevin, the trade deadline is coming up on
Tuesday of next week, so the Lion has just got
done a deal with Aiden Hutchinson, giving him like a
gajillion dollars a week, one hundred and forty million guaranteed whatever,
something like that. And now there's just this thought going
around that, hey man, the Browns are terrible. They're two
and six. Miles Garrett's playing like a maniac. Are they
(13:30):
better off trading him? Do you think the Browns would
even consider trading Miles Garrett? And if somebody was asked
for two first round draft picks and more, is there
a potential for him getting moved and would you do
move like that?
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Well, there's a couple of things about Garrett. First of all,
he is he is on a Hall of Fame path
right now. But I just read something the other day
back this morning about how his deportment around the organization
is not great. He's late for meetings, he is a
no show for some This is reporting from what was
in I think The Athletic this morning, from a reliable reporter,
(14:07):
that he is he is a no show for some
team activities. I don't know if this is a way
of him saying I'm frustrated. I'm not going to be
the person you want me to be unless you show
me that you're going to do some things to help
this organization. And clearly the organization has been mismanaged, and
(14:28):
they're living in a world right now where they need
they need volume and not just one one. Miles Garrett
is great, but he's not winning them games. So I
guess you'd have to think that he would bring at
least two first round picks and maybe even a starter. Now.
I think he's that good he is, you know, as
(14:51):
as that position goes the most one of the top
three most valuable positions on your team, quarterback being one
of them, maybe at a shutdown corner ever, but those
guys can can change a team. We see what Micah
Parsons has done for the Green Bay defense, and if
there's a contending team that is like one gigantic playmaker away,
(15:16):
I think that we know it's a win now league,
and you make the deal and maybe you sacrifice a
couple of first routers in the beginning. There's no guarantee
on what you're going to get in those drafts, but
there is a pretty good guarantee that if you're bringing
Miles Garrett into your organization and put them in the
right culture, that you can straighten out the things off
the field and you're gonna get the same performance on
(15:37):
the field.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
Yeah, Well, the other trade target conversation. A lot of
conversation has been circling around Kirk Cousins obviously lost his
job last year. Penix is on the way back. Maybe
this weekend. I mean, if you're a quarterback needy team,
do you think about trading for Kirk Cousins or is
that contract still problematic in your mind?
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Well, it's a gigantic but that's that's the cost of
doing business in the league. If you don't have a quarterback,
you know you've got room because if you do have
a quarterback, you're paying him that kind of money. So
now what we were there in Atlanta this past week
and saw that game against Miami and Cousins did not
look great. Now, he is not practiced within one offense
(16:21):
all season until this week, the focus has been on Pennis.
Cousins has been an afterthought, scout team quarterback. He's not
played with the starters until a couple of practices this
past week. I think there's still something there. He's incredible
in terms of leadership and for the locker room. He's
a breath of fresh air. He is universally loved wherever
(16:44):
he's played, and if your team is lacking quarterback and
has everything set around him. I think that's a move
you got to look to make. He's thirty seven, he
could give you two to three more good years. Well
you figure out that position. But if your team is
ready to go, and I guess I'm trying to think
of the Vikings. If your team is ready to move
and he's got a history there, why not bring him
(17:06):
back in. Listen, the Vikings let go of two. They
let go two unbelievable quarterbacks last year, Daniel Jones who
never played for him but was on the roster and
Sam Darnold. Like they had their guys. Now they're in
quarterback hell. They lost Carson Wentz, they got an unproven
(17:26):
JJ McCarthy who's been very ordinary in his beginning. I mean,
there's a lot going on and that team won fourteen
games last year, So why not why not make the
deal for Cousins, bring him in, take that salary, figure
it out, maybe rework it or something. Get him in there.
See if you can salvage this season because you got
a tough division you're going to have to get out
(17:47):
of with Green Bay and Detroit, and maybe rekindle what
you had. Let him finish off up there. Let him
bring that young quarterback because the quarterback JJ is really
just a rookie. He's only played two NFL games, Like,
he's not going to quit. The life's not going to
go on and he's not that's not going to happen,
So I that would be a prime target, I would think.
(18:09):
But maybe they got another vision and the pretty smart
people up there, so that will be one of the
more interesting developments to see what happens.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
Because yeah, well the only other vision would be just
a tank for the rest of the year and get
as high a draft pick as possible. I'm totally with you.
So all right, here we go. It's time for where
will Kevin be for TV on Sunday? We've already established
that Romo and Nance are in Buffalo for Kansas City
and the Buffalo Bills, And I'm gonna go ahead and
just predict right out of the gate here a pretty
big game at ten o'clock in the morning on Sunday
(18:37):
morning on CBS. I think you'll be in Pittsburgh for
Indy and the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Am I right?
Speaker 2 (18:43):
No?
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Did?
Speaker 5 (18:46):
How could that be Indianapolis with the MVP at Pittsburgh?
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Aaron Rodgers, what in the world. How can you not
be in Pittsburgh?
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Where are you San Francisco at the Giant Fine whatever?
Speaker 1 (19:04):
You know?
Speaker 2 (19:05):
You know, when I was doing that game and the
other day up there with Jampa Bay, and I was
out walking among the people down the concourse, down the
ramps with with the with the sand, A couple of
people noticed that I have a CBS bag, and they said, hey,
can I ask you a question? Why does Dave keep
bringing up like where you're gonna be rocket? I said,
you know what, that's a great question. I don't know.
(19:26):
And then in Unison, like about ten penc we don't care,
and we don't want to know. We don't care.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
I don't believe it.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
It waste valuable airtime. I said, I get you. I
get you. Then I walked. I walked with the people
out of the out of the out of the building.
Speaker 5 (19:40):
Yeah right, I'm sure you did through your super secret
VIP exit. All right, Kevin, you're the man. Great stuff.
Enjoy the weekend. Sorry, we're gonna miss each other again
next weekend, but we'll talk in a week all.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Right, man, Okay, buddy, have a great drift to Madison
and always fun.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
All right, Bud Kevin Harlan with us.
Speaker 5 (19:58):
We're going to break a lot more to get to
to busy, busy Wednesday, Mike Florio again. Hear from him
in the six pm hour, coming up on ninety three
three kJ R f M
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