September 9, 2026 • 23 mins
Kevin Harlan, CBS and Westwood One NFL Broadcaster, joins Dave Softy Mahler for his first weekly visit of the season to discuss the Seahawks title defense starting today, Sam Darnold leading Seattle at quarterback, the tough NFL West, Aaron Donald and his return to the Rams, the Chiefs’ and Bills’ years ahead, plus the Khosla’s ownership.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
As part of our nonstop coverage of the NFL. They
are NFL champions. The Seattle Seahawks have won Super Bowl XLVIII.
This is Softee's weekly visit with Kevin Harlan. He was
like a pinball, banging off bodies. A 23-yard catch and run.
Brought to you by the Emerald Queen Casino.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Always entertaining.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
The ball free.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Picked up by Nolosu. Seattle has scored on another turnover.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Come down to the beautiful EQC Sportsbook to bet, watch,
and win all season long. And the Seattle Seahawks have
won Super Bowl 60 in pretty dominating fashion. On Sports
Radio 93.3, KJR FM.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Well, you know, like the leaves falling off the trees,
like the sunset happening earlier as the days go by,
there's always signs, there's always markers that football season is
here and on the way. And the first conversation that
we get to have every single fall Well, our friend
Kevin Harlan is one of them for me.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
It is absolutely my honor, my pleasure.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Jackson, I was able to have breakfast with Kevin this morning,
and you should have seen the guy. He was like
a rock star. I mean, it was like one of
the Beatles staying at the hotel. People coming by for
photos and autographs and well-wishers. Unbelievable how much pull and
how big a deal this guy really is, and we've
got him every single Wednesday at 5 o'clock.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Once again, courtesy of our friends at the Emerald Queen Casino.
How are you, man?
Speaker 1 (01:32):
When I hear your voice, I think of a new
season and all the fun conversations we'll have here for
the next handful of months. And what better place to
begin than in the home of the Super Bowl champion
Seattle Seahawks. It's exciting to be here. Love seeing you
this morning. Can't wait to get tonight going.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah, well, let's start right there. Let's talk about this
football team because... Outside of the names like Elway, Brady,
and Mahomes, we don't see many quarterbacks. We don't see
many football teams go back-to-back. I mean, this might be
the hardest thing to do, Kevin, right, in professional sports,
and that's win consecutive Lombardis in the NFL. Why or
why not will this Seahawks football team, you think, be
(02:13):
able to pull that off?
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Well, they've got new guys. We know that. I think
Mike has done a great job in framing this season.
in terms of what it could be and not what
has been. You never want to let go of the
components that made you what you were last year. You're
always striving to evolve and improve and ascend. And that's
(02:39):
the way John is wired when he builds the team
and the way Mike is wired when he constructs his
camp in his offseason and now going into week one
against the team he faced, you know, not that long
ago in the Super Bowl. So... You've got energetic, thought-provoking
minds that lead the way, and you've got your core,
(03:04):
and the core, as we've seen, has been tied up
financially now with new contracts, record-setting, historically high contracts that
sends a great message to the rest of the team
that this is just the beginning of of what they
conceive as a long run. And I love that philosophy.
(03:27):
I love the fact they've paid them. They deserve the money.
And my guess is that people are sleeping on this team.
Everyone's talking Rams. Some people in the AFC are talking Houston.
Buffalo clearly is a team that everybody's got in the
tip of their tongue. My view is on this team
(03:48):
as a defending champion, Yes, you've got the pressure and
all the things that you've got to circumvent to get
back to where you were. Can you find the same motivation?
Can you find the same things that prodded you last
year that can do the same, if not more, this year?
You know, that's the great thing about this sport is
(04:08):
that you're always evolving, and that's what the Seahawks have
been at the forefront of.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Well, and if they're going to do it, you know, look,
I mean, they'll either have to replicate what they did
a year ago with the league's number one defense, number
three scoring offense, or, as you know, have a dynamite
year from their quarterback. And I'm just, you know, Kevin,
I'm curious what your thoughts are on Sam Darnold. The numbers,
the stats don't blow up a box score maybe the
way other quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Do, but he's a freaking winner. I mean, the guy's 31-7.
If you include the.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Playoffs, in his last 38 games, there's only four quarterbacks
on the NFL Top 100 that are ranked higher than him,
and that's Allen, Stafford, May, and Patrick Mahomes. So what
is the perception right now, you think, across the league?
Speaker 2 (04:53):
What's your perception of Sam Darnold?
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Well, the perception is that what they thought coming out
of USC was correct and that it had to be
the right environment for to get him to where he
is now, where he began with the Vikings, won the
14 games, the 14 wins last year with the Hawks.
He's won that number of games. Only one other quarterback
(05:18):
has done it back-to-back seasons, Brady, and no one's ever
done it with a new team like he did. So
he has trudged his way from a slow beginning to
really having an appreciation of what it takes to be
a champion. He is surrounded by... the right kind of
people around him. They've molded the offense even more to
(05:40):
what he does well. His offensive line is terrific, better
than even last year, I think. And he just has,
and I say better because they're a year into it,
another year together. That is an incomparable thing when you
look at why offensive lines work. It's maybe not one
(06:02):
guy or two guys. They're such a collective team. that
another year with the success they've had, the same five
guys are coming back. That is a luxury few, if any,
teams have in this league except the Hawks. And that's
a defending champion bringing back all five starters. Like, it's
an amazing thing. And the player of the year on offense.
(06:24):
And a quarterback who's won 28 games, you know, for
the last two years. I think it's the turnover thing
that will continue to be the question that people have.
And rightly so. It's there. And something that he knows.
But let me put it to you this way. If
you're not attempting to push the envelope a little bit
(06:45):
and know you're going to have those moments, I don't
know that you want a quarterback who's too safe. You
want a quarterback who's aggressive. And I think they've got
that in this guy.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Well, this NFC West is a juggernaut, man. I mean,
I feel like a lot of people are just throwing
the Niners out and saying they're not going to be
a factor, which I think is crazy.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
They won 12 games a year ago.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
These three teams, the Hawks and Rams and Niners combined,
won 38 games last season. I know the Niners got
blown apart in Week 17, hammered by the Hawks in
the divisional round, so there might be a gap, obviously.
between the two of them, but the Rams go out
and get Jalen Watson, they get McDuffie, and we thought
that was a lot. Then they go out and get
Miles Garrett, and we thought that was a lot. Then
(07:26):
they go out and get Aaron Donald. I mean, it's unbelievable.
So they're putting this super team together in L.A. I mean,
would you call the Rams the heavy favorite to win
the West? Because Vegas certainly thinks they are.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Well, getting out of this division becomes the number one goal.
I mean, how can you survive what is the most
treacherous division ever? in football closely followed probably by either
the AFC West or the NFC North. I mean, the
division strength in some of these divisions in the league
led by the NFC West is just incredible. And so
(08:00):
navigating your own division becomes, you know, job one. How
do we get out of here? How do we navigate this?
And then whatever else the league throws at us with
the schedule is what we've got to deal with. So
the Rams have made some significant additions, and I would
say that you've got to put them in that conversation.
(08:23):
But to have two teams that are favored in the
conference in the same division that will play each other
twice is just mind-boggling to me. But that's what we got,
and it's not going to go away. So iron sharpens iron.
I see this making all the teams in this division better.
(08:45):
Even the Cardinals, who have got, you know, not much
going for them and clearly are a couple years away,
but have got some playmakers now, and they're high on
their running back. The rookie out of Notre Dame loves.
They've got the best tight end in football. You know,
even they are beginning to make some strides with a
brand-new head coach. So the division remains strong. That's job
(09:07):
one is surviving what you face twice a year and
trying to survive that. And listen, operating the way the
Seahawks are as a defending champion every week, regardless where
they play, who they play, they've got the big bullseye
on their back. And contending with that mentally every week,
(09:28):
getting everybody's best punch, that can take a toll. But
I think this team is mentally strong enough to handle
that but every week they're going to get everybody's best shot.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
The expert analysis of kevin harlan provided every wednesday by
our friends at the emerald queen casino uh and you
mentioned the rams and hawks they're playing each other twice
in the last three weeks by the way christmas day
and then week 18 i mean it's going to be
freaking nuts man with these two teams get together but
talk about donald for a second i mean he's not
going to australia he's 35 he hasn't played in two
(10:02):
years um i don't know i mean i thought the
rams were gonna be damn good even before they went
out and got miles garrett even before they went out
and got aaron donald so how much does the donald thing.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Kind of move the needle for you kevin.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
I think he's going to be used situationally. When he
was in his prime and playing and winning these Defensive
Player of the Year awards and the All-Pro team and
all the things, the decorated career that he had, you know,
he was an every-down guy. Now I think that changes
(10:39):
a bit. Number one, they've got to reacclimate him to
the league and the punishment and just what it is now.
And he is as great as that position has ever seen,
but he's been gone for a couple years. And things change.
Body changes. Your mind changes. And getting him up to
(11:01):
speed is going to be job one. And I can
see not taking him all the way there. That does
him no good. He may have played ten plays. And
I don't know that it's worth sending him all the
way across the world to play ten plays. they're going
to get a lot out of him. I think it'll
be more substitutional, but I think he'll be a factor,
(11:23):
and they want to keep him fresh. They're dealing with
a 35-year-old guy. But listen, defensive linemen seem to play
multiple years more than a lot of other positions. I'm
not sure what it is, but we've got a lot
of guys in this league, Garrett being one of them,
that have had long careers, and I think Donald– has
(11:44):
good years, good plays, good games left in him. He
may not be what he once was, but every once
in a while he's going to be as good as
he used to be, and that's going to be fun
to watch. Plus, mentally, for the team to bring in
a legend like that does nothing but fortify your effort
and reveal even more the goal of what you've got
(12:06):
set for this season. You get Garrett, you get McDuffie
in the deal with the Chiefs, and then you go
out and maybe the greatest interior defensive lineman this league
has ever seen, and here he is now back with us,
a couple years removed, still in great physical shape, mentally
ready to go, and playing beside Garrett. It's amazing. So
(12:27):
the mental aspect of him coming back, I think, can
never be ignored.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Yeah, Kevin Harlan's with us.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
And, Kevin, there's obviously going to be a lot of
potential bounce-back stories this year. No bigger than in Kansas City.
I mean, you've got the Broncos and Chiefs. We'll have
the game for you on KJR on Monday night from
Arrowhead Stadium.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
I don't know, man.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
What are we looking at? I mean, Mahomes coming off
the injury. Kelsey's obviously getting long in the tooth. Do
the Chiefs have one more magical run in them to
a championship, or are the glory days for Reed and
Mahomes and Kelsey behind them?
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Well, I'm not sure what Kelsey is going to bring,
but I think getting the Super Bowl MVP in the
backfield is going to be huge. I think they're going
to put Patrick under center more. They want to run
the ball. They want to protect his knee. And we
all know, and just history would tell you, that the
first year back after a major knee injury is never
(13:28):
quite as good as you hope, maybe better than it
probably has been in the past. But I don't know
that he'll be necessarily himself. You know, one of the
great things, tools he had was he ran the ball well.
He was athletic and kind of like Gumby out there, right?
You could bend him. He could move in ways that would,
(13:50):
you know, alter tackle attempts and stuff. He just seemed
to really have that bullet in his holster. And I
think that is going to really be curtailed. And he's
not going to have that aspect of his game in
full bloom this year. It may happen later in the season,
(14:13):
but to begin with, no. And they begin against Denver.
I think Denver is the team to beat in the
AFC myself. I think they're phenomenal. They're on par with
the Rams. and with the Seahawks, I think Denver is
a phenomenal team. Phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Why more so than Houston or maybe Buffalo, you think?
Speaker 1 (14:31):
I think the quarterback is in his third year. I
think they're better at running back. They've got Waddle in
a deal with Miami. Their defense has been number one
the last two years in sacks. They're only stronger this year.
Their offensive line, they've spent a lot of money on
their offensive line. It's as good as Seattle's offensive line.
(14:51):
I just think they are a Super Bowl team in waiting.
But they've got to get out of the division. That
means they've got to beat the Chiefs, and they've got
to get by the Chargers. And those are two tough opponents.
I don't think it's as difficult a division as the West,
the NFC West, but I think it's just a hair underneath,
but it will be treacherous. But I think the Broncos
(15:13):
are the team in the AFC, and I'm not going
to deviate my feeling that the Seahawks are the team
in the NFC again. Hmm.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Well, a Seahawks-Denver rematch would be tasty, Super Bowl XLVIII.
We all want to know what happened that day when
the Broncos got slaughtered. So that was the matchup a
lot of people thought we'd see until Bo Nix went
down with the injury a year ago. But Kevin Harlan's
with us. He's got national radio tonight for Seahawks in
New England coming up across the street in a matter
of minutes. And, Kevin, I don't do this very often,
(15:41):
but our server at Breakfast Peg says, wants me to
ask you about the Vikings. Big Vikings fan. You got
Kyler Murray as the QB1. You got Carson Wentz backing
him up, and JJ's the number three.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
So our friend Peg, who was just completely enamored.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
I got to tell you, I thought she was seeing, like,
Paul McCartney, for crying out loud, Mick Jagger at the hotel.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
She wants to know what you think about Minnesota.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
You know, I'm okay on Minnesota. I think the division's
pretty open. I think everyone's got their eyes on the Bears.
I think if the Packers get Micah Parsons that they
traded for a year ago and coming off a blown knee,
if he's like he was, my money may be on
Green Bay. I don't know about Murray, and already out
(16:30):
of Minnesota, we're hearing that Kyler Murray is, you know,
the question that is kind of circulating, how much time
is he putting in on that game plan, in that playbook? Like,
where is his mind at? This is the big complaint
in Phoenix, and it's beginning to seep back into the
(16:53):
storyline in Minnesota. And clearly J.J. McCarthy, to get beaten
out by this guy, I think tells you all you
need to know about where McCarthy is and maybe what
a blown pick that could have been for the Vikings.
They've got one of the great receivers in football. They've
got a couple guys on defense that are noteworthy players
that you've got to watch. I'm okay. I'm a Viking.
(17:17):
There's so many unknowns about it, but it begins with
a quarterback, and so far the results are kind of eh.
And now you've got this other narrative about is he
putting in enough time? Is he the first guy there?
and the last guy to leave, or when the meeting ends,
does he close up the book and head to the
car and take off, and does he just get in
(17:38):
a minute before the meeting starts? That's not what the
top quarterback for a team's got to be. He's got
to be like Sam or like any of the other
good ones in the league. They lead by example. Watch
what I do and how I do it, and I'm
not sure that Murray is that kind of guy, and
that'll be an interesting story to follow as the year
(17:59):
goes on.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Yeah, they got three number one first-run draft picks in
their quarterback room. Kyler Murray was number one, Wentz was
number two, and J.J. McCarthy was a top half of
the first round. So it's unbelievable the draft capital that
they have just sitting there, not from them, obviously, but
sitting there in their draft room. But we mentioned Buffalo earlier,
and my God, it would be a shame, Kevin, wouldn't it,
(18:22):
if Josh Allen never got to play in a Super Bowl?
Speaker 2 (18:25):
McDermott out, Joe Brady in.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
What do you think year one looks like under Joe
Brady with Josh Allen, man?
Speaker 2 (18:33):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
And they're going to Houston, I think, this weekend. Correct.
And Houston is just dynamite. Houston is just a shade
maybe below Denver, and the difference might be a quarterback
and a couple other spots. But Houston is so good. God,
are they good. I'm a little concerned. You know, I
(18:57):
like McDermott. I thought he set the right tone. I
think they had trouble getting that coordinator thing settled. And
then Brady came in and seemed to reconnect and do
the things he needed to do. And now he's the
head coach. I don't know. They're a good team. I
don't put them with Denver. And I don't know if
(19:18):
I even put them with Houston. But they're up there,
clearly in the top five. In the AFC, but I
don't know. I'm not sure.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Well, listen, I know you've got to run in a
few minutes and get on the air.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
How many years now is this with Westwood One calling
the NFL games?
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Overall in the league, I started Monday Night Football in
09 and started NFL play-by-play in 85. So that means
I'm old. But thankfully I've got friends like you that
buy breakfast and make me laugh and make me energized
about the season. So beginning the year in Seattle with
(19:57):
you this morning was the perfect scenario, and I can't
wait to get the season started.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
Yeah, well, let me get a couple more, one more
really on the Seahawks before you go.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
I was.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Talking earlier today, I had a conversation with Neil Kosla.
who is Vinod and Neera Khosla's son. They are the
new owners of the Seahawks. And for all I know,
you'll meet them tonight. They're going to be in the stands.
The last time they were here, because, you know, Vinod
was a minority investor, Kevin, in the Niners. They were
here in Seattle last year watching the Niners get destroyed
(20:29):
in the division round, and now they're rooting for the
Seahawks in week one against New England. There are some
nervous fans. It's the first time in 30 years that
an Allen will not own the Seahawks. What's your message?
What's your thought on a new era for ownership here
in Seattle?
Speaker 1 (20:45):
Well, the Allen run was historically good. They spent money,
the stadium, the leadership, to let the football people do
their job was their credo. And they didn't ask, why
do you do this? They asked, how can I help?
What can I do to make it better? And Pete
(21:06):
Carroll experienced it. John Schneider has experienced it. And now
with Mike, the same thing is going. I mean, that
was a historic and coveted ownership. And my guess is,
my hope is, if this group is the same way,
I think the blueprint has been laid for a successful
(21:28):
NFL ownership. Few teams, few organizations have had the run
the Seahawks have had over these many decades. So I
would like to think they're going to have the playbook
in front of them that the Allen family wrote, and
they're going to follow it as closely as they can
and look for enhancements as the world evolves. But always say,
(21:49):
how can we help? What do you need? How can
we make this better? And let the football people do
their job. The football people are not going to that
family anymore. and saying, hey, I've got some ideas how
you can make more money. No, they're staying in their lane.
Everybody needs to stay in their lane. That is proven
(22:09):
NFL ownership.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
Can you imagine Schneider goes to Vinod Khosla? Hey, man,
I got a tip on a stock. I got a
tip on a nice investment for you. Can I have
$ 20 billion? Hey, Kevin, you're the man. Great stuff. It's
awesome to hear your voice. Awesome to see you. I
don't know why you keep doing it, but you keep
agreeing to come back with us every single year and
(22:33):
talk NFL with us on Wednesdays. And I know you
don't do a lot of these things around the country,
and we are damn lucky to have you. I love
you like a brother. And we are damn lucky to
have you. Can't wait to keep this thing going every
Wednesday during the season, man.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Love you, Dave. Thanks for having me on. It's my
privilege to join you every week. And this great station
in this incredible community following the world champions. I mean,
this is where everybody wants to be. And can't wait
to get there and get this game going tonight. I'm
in the press box right now. Stadium is coming alive.
(23:08):
What a scene and what a great city. And thank
you for having me on again.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
You're the best. Kevin Harlan with us, courtesy of the
Emerald Queen.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
We'll let him go and get ready for the call
of the Seahawks and the Patriots on national radio.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
We'll get a break. We're live at Jimmy's.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Don't forget, Hugh and Dick have the 12th-man postgame show
after tonight's Seahawks game.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
What do you say we talk some dogs?
Speaker 3 (23:29):
Michael Switzer, man, offensive line coach for UW, not thrilled
at all with the performance of the Hogs up front
versus the Cougars on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Hear from him. We'll talk some Huskies next on 93.3 KJRFM.
As part of our nonstop coverage of the NFL. They
are NFL champions. The Seattle Seahawks have won Super Bowl XLVIII.
This is Softee's weekly visit with Kevin Harlan. He was
like a pinball, banging off bodies. A 23-yard catch and run.
Brought to you by the Emerald Queen Casino.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Always entertaining.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
The ball free.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Picked up by Nolosu. Seattle has scored on another turnover.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Come down to the beautiful EQC Sportsbook to bet, watch,
and win all season long. And the Seattle Seahawks have
won Super Bowl 60 in pretty dominating fashion. On Sports
Radio 93.3, KJR FM.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Well, you know, like the leaves falling off the trees,
like the sunset happening earlier as the days go by,
there's always signs, there's always markers that football season is
here and on the way. And the first conversation that
we get to have every single fall Well, our friend
Kevin Harlan is one of them for me.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
It is absolutely my honor, my pleasure.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Jackson, I was able to have breakfast with Kevin this morning,
and you should have seen the guy. He was like
a rock star. I mean, it was like one of
the Beatles staying at the hotel. People coming by for
photos and autographs and well-wishers. Unbelievable how much pull and
how big a deal this guy really is, and we've
got him every single Wednesday at 5 o'clock.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Once again, courtesy of our friends at the Emerald Queen Casino.
How are you, man?
Speaker 1 (01:32):
When I hear your voice, I think of a new
season and all the fun conversations we'll have here for
the next handful of months. And what better place to
begin than in the home of the Super Bowl champion
Seattle Seahawks. It's exciting to be here. Love seeing you
this morning. Can't wait to get tonight going.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah, well, let's start right there. Let's talk about this
football team because... Outside of the names like Elway, Brady,
and Mahomes, we don't see many quarterbacks. We don't see
many football teams go back-to-back. I mean, this might be
the hardest thing to do, Kevin, right, in professional sports,
and that's win consecutive Lombardis in the NFL. Why or
why not will this Seahawks football team, you think, be
(02:13):
able to pull that off?
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Well, they've got new guys. We know that. I think
Mike has done a great job in framing this season.
in terms of what it could be and not what
has been. You never want to let go of the
components that made you what you were last year. You're
always striving to evolve and improve and ascend. And that's
(02:39):
the way John is wired when he builds the team
and the way Mike is wired when he constructs his
camp in his offseason and now going into week one
against the team he faced, you know, not that long
ago in the Super Bowl. So... You've got energetic, thought-provoking
minds that lead the way, and you've got your core,
(03:04):
and the core, as we've seen, has been tied up
financially now with new contracts, record-setting, historically high contracts that
sends a great message to the rest of the team
that this is just the beginning of of what they
conceive as a long run. And I love that philosophy.
(03:27):
I love the fact they've paid them. They deserve the money.
And my guess is that people are sleeping on this team.
Everyone's talking Rams. Some people in the AFC are talking Houston.
Buffalo clearly is a team that everybody's got in the
tip of their tongue. My view is on this team
(03:48):
as a defending champion, Yes, you've got the pressure and
all the things that you've got to circumvent to get
back to where you were. Can you find the same motivation?
Can you find the same things that prodded you last
year that can do the same, if not more, this year?
You know, that's the great thing about this sport is
(04:08):
that you're always evolving, and that's what the Seahawks have
been at the forefront of.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Well, and if they're going to do it, you know, look,
I mean, they'll either have to replicate what they did
a year ago with the league's number one defense, number
three scoring offense, or, as you know, have a dynamite
year from their quarterback. And I'm just, you know, Kevin,
I'm curious what your thoughts are on Sam Darnold. The numbers,
the stats don't blow up a box score maybe the
way other quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Do, but he's a freaking winner. I mean, the guy's 31-7.
If you include the.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Playoffs, in his last 38 games, there's only four quarterbacks
on the NFL Top 100 that are ranked higher than him,
and that's Allen, Stafford, May, and Patrick Mahomes. So what
is the perception right now, you think, across the league?
Speaker 2 (04:53):
What's your perception of Sam Darnold?
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Well, the perception is that what they thought coming out
of USC was correct and that it had to be
the right environment for to get him to where he
is now, where he began with the Vikings, won the
14 games, the 14 wins last year with the Hawks.
He's won that number of games. Only one other quarterback
(05:18):
has done it back-to-back seasons, Brady, and no one's ever
done it with a new team like he did. So
he has trudged his way from a slow beginning to
really having an appreciation of what it takes to be
a champion. He is surrounded by... the right kind of
people around him. They've molded the offense even more to
(05:40):
what he does well. His offensive line is terrific, better
than even last year, I think. And he just has,
and I say better because they're a year into it,
another year together. That is an incomparable thing when you
look at why offensive lines work. It's maybe not one
(06:02):
guy or two guys. They're such a collective team. that
another year with the success they've had, the same five
guys are coming back. That is a luxury few, if any,
teams have in this league except the Hawks. And that's
a defending champion bringing back all five starters. Like, it's
an amazing thing. And the player of the year on offense.
(06:24):
And a quarterback who's won 28 games, you know, for
the last two years. I think it's the turnover thing
that will continue to be the question that people have.
And rightly so. It's there. And something that he knows.
But let me put it to you this way. If
you're not attempting to push the envelope a little bit
(06:45):
and know you're going to have those moments, I don't
know that you want a quarterback who's too safe. You
want a quarterback who's aggressive. And I think they've got
that in this guy.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Well, this NFC West is a juggernaut, man. I mean,
I feel like a lot of people are just throwing
the Niners out and saying they're not going to be
a factor, which I think is crazy.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
They won 12 games a year ago.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
These three teams, the Hawks and Rams and Niners combined,
won 38 games last season. I know the Niners got
blown apart in Week 17, hammered by the Hawks in
the divisional round, so there might be a gap, obviously.
between the two of them, but the Rams go out
and get Jalen Watson, they get McDuffie, and we thought
that was a lot. Then they go out and get
Miles Garrett, and we thought that was a lot. Then
(07:26):
they go out and get Aaron Donald. I mean, it's unbelievable.
So they're putting this super team together in L.A. I mean,
would you call the Rams the heavy favorite to win
the West? Because Vegas certainly thinks they are.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Well, getting out of this division becomes the number one goal.
I mean, how can you survive what is the most
treacherous division ever? in football closely followed probably by either
the AFC West or the NFC North. I mean, the
division strength in some of these divisions in the league
led by the NFC West is just incredible. And so
(08:00):
navigating your own division becomes, you know, job one. How
do we get out of here? How do we navigate this?
And then whatever else the league throws at us with
the schedule is what we've got to deal with. So
the Rams have made some significant additions, and I would
say that you've got to put them in that conversation.
(08:23):
But to have two teams that are favored in the
conference in the same division that will play each other
twice is just mind-boggling to me. But that's what we got,
and it's not going to go away. So iron sharpens iron.
I see this making all the teams in this division better.
(08:45):
Even the Cardinals, who have got, you know, not much
going for them and clearly are a couple years away,
but have got some playmakers now, and they're high on
their running back. The rookie out of Notre Dame loves.
They've got the best tight end in football. You know,
even they are beginning to make some strides with a
brand-new head coach. So the division remains strong. That's job
(09:07):
one is surviving what you face twice a year and
trying to survive that. And listen, operating the way the
Seahawks are as a defending champion every week, regardless where
they play, who they play, they've got the big bullseye
on their back. And contending with that mentally every week,
(09:28):
getting everybody's best punch, that can take a toll. But
I think this team is mentally strong enough to handle
that but every week they're going to get everybody's best shot.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
The expert analysis of kevin harlan provided every wednesday by
our friends at the emerald queen casino uh and you
mentioned the rams and hawks they're playing each other twice
in the last three weeks by the way christmas day
and then week 18 i mean it's going to be
freaking nuts man with these two teams get together but
talk about donald for a second i mean he's not
going to australia he's 35 he hasn't played in two
(10:02):
years um i don't know i mean i thought the
rams were gonna be damn good even before they went
out and got miles garrett even before they went out
and got aaron donald so how much does the donald thing.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Kind of move the needle for you kevin.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
I think he's going to be used situationally. When he
was in his prime and playing and winning these Defensive
Player of the Year awards and the All-Pro team and
all the things, the decorated career that he had, you know,
he was an every-down guy. Now I think that changes
(10:39):
a bit. Number one, they've got to reacclimate him to
the league and the punishment and just what it is now.
And he is as great as that position has ever seen,
but he's been gone for a couple years. And things change.
Body changes. Your mind changes. And getting him up to
(11:01):
speed is going to be job one. And I can
see not taking him all the way there. That does
him no good. He may have played ten plays. And
I don't know that it's worth sending him all the
way across the world to play ten plays. they're going
to get a lot out of him. I think it'll
be more substitutional, but I think he'll be a factor,
(11:23):
and they want to keep him fresh. They're dealing with
a 35-year-old guy. But listen, defensive linemen seem to play
multiple years more than a lot of other positions. I'm
not sure what it is, but we've got a lot
of guys in this league, Garrett being one of them,
that have had long careers, and I think Donald– has
(11:44):
good years, good plays, good games left in him. He
may not be what he once was, but every once
in a while he's going to be as good as
he used to be, and that's going to be fun
to watch. Plus, mentally, for the team to bring in
a legend like that does nothing but fortify your effort
and reveal even more the goal of what you've got
(12:06):
set for this season. You get Garrett, you get McDuffie
in the deal with the Chiefs, and then you go
out and maybe the greatest interior defensive lineman this league
has ever seen, and here he is now back with us,
a couple years removed, still in great physical shape, mentally
ready to go, and playing beside Garrett. It's amazing. So
(12:27):
the mental aspect of him coming back, I think, can
never be ignored.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Yeah, Kevin Harlan's with us.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
And, Kevin, there's obviously going to be a lot of
potential bounce-back stories this year. No bigger than in Kansas City.
I mean, you've got the Broncos and Chiefs. We'll have
the game for you on KJR on Monday night from
Arrowhead Stadium.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
I don't know, man.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
What are we looking at? I mean, Mahomes coming off
the injury. Kelsey's obviously getting long in the tooth. Do
the Chiefs have one more magical run in them to
a championship, or are the glory days for Reed and
Mahomes and Kelsey behind them?
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Well, I'm not sure what Kelsey is going to bring,
but I think getting the Super Bowl MVP in the
backfield is going to be huge. I think they're going
to put Patrick under center more. They want to run
the ball. They want to protect his knee. And we
all know, and just history would tell you, that the
first year back after a major knee injury is never
(13:28):
quite as good as you hope, maybe better than it
probably has been in the past. But I don't know
that he'll be necessarily himself. You know, one of the
great things, tools he had was he ran the ball well.
He was athletic and kind of like Gumby out there, right?
You could bend him. He could move in ways that would,
(13:50):
you know, alter tackle attempts and stuff. He just seemed
to really have that bullet in his holster. And I
think that is going to really be curtailed. And he's
not going to have that aspect of his game in
full bloom this year. It may happen later in the season,
(14:13):
but to begin with, no. And they begin against Denver.
I think Denver is the team to beat in the
AFC myself. I think they're phenomenal. They're on par with
the Rams. and with the Seahawks, I think Denver is
a phenomenal team. Phenomenal.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Why more so than Houston or maybe Buffalo, you think?
Speaker 1 (14:31):
I think the quarterback is in his third year. I
think they're better at running back. They've got Waddle in
a deal with Miami. Their defense has been number one
the last two years in sacks. They're only stronger this year.
Their offensive line, they've spent a lot of money on
their offensive line. It's as good as Seattle's offensive line.
(14:51):
I just think they are a Super Bowl team in waiting.
But they've got to get out of the division. That
means they've got to beat the Chiefs, and they've got
to get by the Chargers. And those are two tough opponents.
I don't think it's as difficult a division as the West,
the NFC West, but I think it's just a hair underneath,
but it will be treacherous. But I think the Broncos
(15:13):
are the team in the AFC, and I'm not going
to deviate my feeling that the Seahawks are the team
in the NFC again. Hmm.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Well, a Seahawks-Denver rematch would be tasty, Super Bowl XLVIII.
We all want to know what happened that day when
the Broncos got slaughtered. So that was the matchup a
lot of people thought we'd see until Bo Nix went
down with the injury a year ago. But Kevin Harlan's
with us. He's got national radio tonight for Seahawks in
New England coming up across the street in a matter
of minutes. And, Kevin, I don't do this very often,
(15:41):
but our server at Breakfast Peg says, wants me to
ask you about the Vikings. Big Vikings fan. You got
Kyler Murray as the QB1. You got Carson Wentz backing
him up, and JJ's the number three.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
So our friend Peg, who was just completely enamored.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
I got to tell you, I thought she was seeing, like,
Paul McCartney, for crying out loud, Mick Jagger at the hotel.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
She wants to know what you think about Minnesota.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
You know, I'm okay on Minnesota. I think the division's
pretty open. I think everyone's got their eyes on the Bears.
I think if the Packers get Micah Parsons that they
traded for a year ago and coming off a blown knee,
if he's like he was, my money may be on
Green Bay. I don't know about Murray, and already out
(16:30):
of Minnesota, we're hearing that Kyler Murray is, you know,
the question that is kind of circulating, how much time
is he putting in on that game plan, in that playbook? Like,
where is his mind at? This is the big complaint
in Phoenix, and it's beginning to seep back into the
(16:53):
storyline in Minnesota. And clearly J.J. McCarthy, to get beaten
out by this guy, I think tells you all you
need to know about where McCarthy is and maybe what
a blown pick that could have been for the Vikings.
They've got one of the great receivers in football. They've
got a couple guys on defense that are noteworthy players
that you've got to watch. I'm okay. I'm a Viking.
(17:17):
There's so many unknowns about it, but it begins with
a quarterback, and so far the results are kind of eh.
And now you've got this other narrative about is he
putting in enough time? Is he the first guy there?
and the last guy to leave, or when the meeting ends,
does he close up the book and head to the
car and take off, and does he just get in
(17:38):
a minute before the meeting starts? That's not what the
top quarterback for a team's got to be. He's got
to be like Sam or like any of the other
good ones in the league. They lead by example. Watch
what I do and how I do it, and I'm
not sure that Murray is that kind of guy, and
that'll be an interesting story to follow as the year
(17:59):
goes on.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Yeah, they got three number one first-run draft picks in
their quarterback room. Kyler Murray was number one, Wentz was
number two, and J.J. McCarthy was a top half of
the first round. So it's unbelievable the draft capital that
they have just sitting there, not from them, obviously, but
sitting there in their draft room. But we mentioned Buffalo earlier,
and my God, it would be a shame, Kevin, wouldn't it,
(18:22):
if Josh Allen never got to play in a Super Bowl?
Speaker 2 (18:25):
McDermott out, Joe Brady in.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
What do you think year one looks like under Joe
Brady with Josh Allen, man?
Speaker 2 (18:33):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
And they're going to Houston, I think, this weekend. Correct.
And Houston is just dynamite. Houston is just a shade
maybe below Denver, and the difference might be a quarterback
and a couple other spots. But Houston is so good. God,
are they good. I'm a little concerned. You know, I
(18:57):
like McDermott. I thought he set the right tone. I
think they had trouble getting that coordinator thing settled. And
then Brady came in and seemed to reconnect and do
the things he needed to do. And now he's the
head coach. I don't know. They're a good team. I
don't put them with Denver. And I don't know if
(19:18):
I even put them with Houston. But they're up there,
clearly in the top five. In the AFC, but I
don't know. I'm not sure.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Well, listen, I know you've got to run in a
few minutes and get on the air.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
How many years now is this with Westwood One calling
the NFL games?
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Overall in the league, I started Monday Night Football in
09 and started NFL play-by-play in 85. So that means
I'm old. But thankfully I've got friends like you that
buy breakfast and make me laugh and make me energized
about the season. So beginning the year in Seattle with
(19:57):
you this morning was the perfect scenario, and I can't
wait to get the season started.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
Yeah, well, let me get a couple more, one more
really on the Seahawks before you go.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
I was.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Talking earlier today, I had a conversation with Neil Kosla.
who is Vinod and Neera Khosla's son. They are the
new owners of the Seahawks. And for all I know,
you'll meet them tonight. They're going to be in the stands.
The last time they were here, because, you know, Vinod
was a minority investor, Kevin, in the Niners. They were
here in Seattle last year watching the Niners get destroyed
(20:29):
in the division round, and now they're rooting for the
Seahawks in week one against New England. There are some
nervous fans. It's the first time in 30 years that
an Allen will not own the Seahawks. What's your message?
What's your thought on a new era for ownership here
in Seattle?
Speaker 1 (20:45):
Well, the Allen run was historically good. They spent money,
the stadium, the leadership, to let the football people do
their job was their credo. And they didn't ask, why
do you do this? They asked, how can I help?
What can I do to make it better? And Pete
(21:06):
Carroll experienced it. John Schneider has experienced it. And now
with Mike, the same thing is going. I mean, that
was a historic and coveted ownership. And my guess is,
my hope is, if this group is the same way,
I think the blueprint has been laid for a successful
(21:28):
NFL ownership. Few teams, few organizations have had the run
the Seahawks have had over these many decades. So I
would like to think they're going to have the playbook
in front of them that the Allen family wrote, and
they're going to follow it as closely as they can
and look for enhancements as the world evolves. But always say,
(21:49):
how can we help? What do you need? How can
we make this better? And let the football people do
their job. The football people are not going to that
family anymore. and saying, hey, I've got some ideas how
you can make more money. No, they're staying in their lane.
Everybody needs to stay in their lane. That is proven
(22:09):
NFL ownership.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
Can you imagine Schneider goes to Vinod Khosla? Hey, man,
I got a tip on a stock. I got a
tip on a nice investment for you. Can I have
$ 20 billion? Hey, Kevin, you're the man. Great stuff. It's
awesome to hear your voice. Awesome to see you. I
don't know why you keep doing it, but you keep
agreeing to come back with us every single year and
(22:33):
talk NFL with us on Wednesdays. And I know you
don't do a lot of these things around the country,
and we are damn lucky to have you. I love
you like a brother. And we are damn lucky to
have you. Can't wait to keep this thing going every
Wednesday during the season, man.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Love you, Dave. Thanks for having me on. It's my
privilege to join you every week. And this great station
in this incredible community following the world champions. I mean,
this is where everybody wants to be. And can't wait
to get there and get this game going tonight. I'm
in the press box right now. Stadium is coming alive.
(23:08):
What a scene and what a great city. And thank
you for having me on again.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
You're the best. Kevin Harlan with us, courtesy of the
Emerald Queen.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
We'll let him go and get ready for the call
of the Seahawks and the Patriots on national radio.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
We'll get a break. We're live at Jimmy's.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Don't forget, Hugh and Dick have the 12th-man postgame show
after tonight's Seahawks game.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
What do you say we talk some dogs?
Speaker 3 (23:29):
Michael Switzer, man, offensive line coach for UW, not thrilled
at all with the performance of the Hogs up front
versus the Cougars on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Hear from him. We'll talk some Huskies next on 93.3 KJRFM.
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