Free Agent Frenzy

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Alex Hardy: We are those guys.

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We want to be your guys following the
latest in a free agency frenzy as we'll

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call it because I love the alliteration.

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I'm Alex Hardy joined as
always by Nick Ferguson.

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What's going on, Nick Ferg?

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Nick Ferguson: Hey, man.

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It's cold out here in

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Alex Hardy: Denver.

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Well, I'll look at the, uh,
sunny palm trees outside my

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window and then keep the rest

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Nick Ferguson: of it.

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How dare you?

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How dare you?

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Alex Hardy: So, a lot of
envy amongst NFL fans.

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Regarding free agency with everything
opening, uh, last episode, our

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Russell Wilson episode, in case
you missed that, kind of kicked

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things off a little bit early.

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And it's funny with this 48 hour
tampering period, the NFL news

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cycle starts to dominate Monday.

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Tuesday, Wednesday, when free agency
opens and we still have so many, uh,

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remaining free agents left, but where
we sort of left our conversation with

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Russell Wilson, we saw other quarterbacks
on the move, none more important than

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Kirk Cousins signed the four year, 180
million But a hundred million guaranteed

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contract to the Atlanta Falcons.

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Plus Atlanta adding another weapon
in handing Darnell Mooney, a

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three year 39 million contract.

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So the Atlanta Falcons are going to roll
in with a new head coach under that Sean

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McVay, Kyle Shanahan system and Raheem
Morris having been there in Washington

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and then most recently serving as the
defensive coordinator for the Rams.

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You add in.

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Kirk Cousins and the weapons of Drake
London and Kyle Pitts and last year's,

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uh, first round pick and Bijon Robinson,
plus the addition of Darnell Mooney.

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What do you think that this Falcons
offense looks like compared to,

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let's say the situation Kirk
Cousins just left in Minnesota?

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Nick Ferguson: Well, I'll say this, uh,
it should look that much better because

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when you look at Kirk Cousins and the
numbers that he was able to amass as

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a member of the Vikings, a lot of that
happened because he's a volume passer.

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We know that's going to happen.

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With those Vikings teams, because,
or those teams that Kirk Cousins

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played on, because typically he's
playing from behind, but the biggest

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thing and the benefit for Kirk
Cousins was he had Dalvin Cook.

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And when you have a guy like that,
you can just throw it to him in the

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flat and he can give you an explosive
that helps your offense, but it

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helps your offensive stats as well.

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And now you insert that guy.

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Into the Atlanta Falcons offense
with Cal Pitts, Drake London, B.

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John Robinson, who I thought was
phenomenal as a rookie last year.

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You're really surrounding
Kirk with talent.

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He's definitely one of those
quarterbacks who needs talent around him.

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But you brought up something that
I think is highly important to

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point out here, Alex, is the fact
that you look at Kirk Cousins.

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Where has he been his entire career?

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He's been basically in the
same system his entire career.

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Correct.

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From when he was at, with the commanders,
with Kyle and Mike Shanahan, then

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when he was with the Vikings under
Kevin O'Connell, and now again, under

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Zach Robinson, with Atlanta Falcons.

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So look, I'm all for every guy making
as much money as possible, but we don't

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really know what Kurt can really be
because he's been in the same system

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and been the benefactor of that system.

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So it is great for the Falcons and
Raheem, who's coached on both sides of

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the field, but we have to see what's
going to happen in the long run.

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And more importantly, Kirk
Cousins is in the NFC South.

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Let's be totally honest.

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I'm not saying that that division is
a cakewalk, but we've seen Sean Payton

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and Drew Brees dominate that conference.

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I'm excuse me, that
division for so many years.

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So we'll have to see, but I think
there's a guy Down in Tampa by the

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name of Bacon Mayfield, who's saying,
we're going to say something about

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how well the Falcons do this season.

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Alex Hardy: Right, the Buccaneers
essentially running it back and, uh,

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you know, Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield
and Antoine Winfield and Levante David.

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It's amazing to see guys
play in one uniform.

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I'm not talking about Baker, but
Mike Evans and Levante David, key

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pieces that have been there for a
decade at this point, while adding

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other pieces like Jordan Whitehead.

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And, uh, I think that's really the only
outside free agent they've done so far.

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So they've made a priority
to retain their guys.

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Uh, and really that's sort of
the concern on both sides, right?

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The.

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Minnesota Vikings had a bunch of, uh,
star skill players in Justin Jefferson

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and Dalvin Cook that were on rookie deals.

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And to take advantage of that, they went
and spent big money on Kirk Cousins.

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And in five years, I did want to
point out that his first three years

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in Minnesota was under Mike Zimmer,
uh, before Kevin O'Connell came in.

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So I think that was the one time he
wasn't necessarily in the Shanahan system.

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Oh, no, he was.

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Nick Ferguson: No, not D Filippo,
but he had Gary Kubiak and then

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Gary Kubiak retired and then
his son, Clint Kubiak took over.

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So he's been in this
system for a long time.

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Alex Hardy: Totally fair.

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Uh, Yeah, absolutely.

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So Kirk's familiarity, but I'm getting
a familiar sense in the Atlanta Falcons

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with their skill players on rookie deals.

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Are we doing the same thing over
again where the Vikings wanted to

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take advantage of a, a, an expensive
quarterback with the skill players

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making rookie contract money?

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And they have one playoff win
the show for it in five seasons.

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Kirk Cousins goes because they're, uh,
they're paying Justin Jefferson now and TJ

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Hawkinson, and, uh, you know, bringing in
veterans like Aaron Jones, we'll get to.

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But now the Falcons have this limited
window before they need to get to the

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negotiating table with Drake London,
Kyle Pitts, and making huge decisions

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with some of their key players.

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Nick Ferguson: Yeah, that is true.

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I'm glad that you,

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Alex Hardy: I'm having deja vu,

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Nick Ferguson: I think is my point.

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It is definitely deja vu, but
when you think about a lot of NFL

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franchises, it's almost like they
have this handbook of how to.

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Organize a team and it starts by either
having a rookie quarterback, and then

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you can go out and assign veterans.

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Or you bring in a high priced veteran at
the quarterback position, and then you

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pay everyone else on a rookie pay scale,
uh, peanuts in hopes that it's going to

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get you to where that you need to be.

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But the biggest question I have for the
Atlanta Falcons and Kirk Cousins, or

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better yet, From here on out, Kirk Cousins
will be compared to Matt Ryan because Matt

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Ryan won an MVP in the Falcons uniform.

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He got them to a Super Bowl.

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He was, you know, a quarter and
a half away from winning it.

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But if it wasn't for your,
you know, pesky, uh, Patriots,

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that would have been different.

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Oh, is that what happened?

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Yes, that's kind of what,
what, what happened for sure.

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So, Kirk Cousins will be measured by
the numbers that Matt Ryan put up.

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And this is not one of those cases where
Kirk Cousins has been able to escape,

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you know, ridicule and criticism by
throwing for an ungodly amount of numbers.

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Sort of like another
guy that kind of fits.

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The mold and that would be Tony Romo.

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Alex Hardy: So Matt Ryan out in Atlanta
at 36 years old, Kirk Cousins in coming

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off the Achilles injury at 36 years old.

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Interesting to see, and that NSC South
may be feisty and competitive, even if

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it only takes the first to 10 wins to
win that division, the first couple of

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days of the tampering period mixed into
free agency, the running back market.

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Was one of the more lucrative positions.

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I think it's all in context because
when the salary gap cap goes up about

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30 million, you have a little bit more
coin to spend on what we've been told

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is not necessarily a premium position.

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So maybe we have to take Derrick Henry and
the move to Baltimore out of the equation

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considering what a great match and pair
that is on paper, but of all the running

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backs on the move, Josh Jacobs, a four
year, 48 million contract to Green Bay,

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uh, Saquon Barkley to the Philadelphia
Eagles, And you have other pieces like

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the Houston Texans, uh, moving Devin
Singletary, releasing him rather, trading

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for Joe Mixon, uh, Singletary ends up
replacing Saquon with the Giants, what

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are some, what is one of your favorite
fits, on paper at least, For a running

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style matched with a team that looks
to put an emphasis on the ground game.

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Nick Ferguson: Boy, it's two teams that
run, uh, similar styles of, of offense.

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And they do come from that Shanahan tree.

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You look at the Matt LaFleur and
you think about Jordan Love and

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everything that everyone said about
him, about him being a bust, but when

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LaFleur realized that Jordan Love was
Jordan Love and wasn't Aaron Rodgers.

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He changes the offense.

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And now we're talking about Jordan Love
possibly getting another, well, getting

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a huge deal from the Green Bay Packers,
but you add Josh Jacobs to that offense.

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And you know, with Aaron Jones last
year, I go back to that game against

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the Dallas Cowboys and how they utilize
his ability to run between the tackles

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and get him out on the perimeter that
changed a lot as far as what the Packers

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offense could use, but now you have a.

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Bigger, stronger, more
durable guy and Josh Jacobs.

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So that's one team to watch out for.

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The other one was, I mean, and it's
funny that you mentioned the Devon

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Singatory thing was Joe Mixon.

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Yeah.

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He went down to join CJ Stroud
in Houston and think about it.

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CJ Stroud, I mean, surprised so many
people this year, especially after

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his, uh, S2 scores were leaked.

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And then he said that,
well, he's not going to be.

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Right.

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The end all be all.

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Yeah, he's not projected to be a great
quarterback because of those scores.

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He proved everyone wrong
and I'm glad that he did.

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I liked him coming out of Ohio State,
but you add Joe Mixon to the mix.

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Once again, almost like
what LaFleur is doing.

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You got a guy in Joe Mixon who can catch
the ball out of the backfield, but he

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also can grind it out too if you need
to play those close games against a

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team like Baltimore or Jacksonville.

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Joe Mixon can give you those type
of yards and then you add that.

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You add that skill from the
running back standpoint with

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Nico Collins and Tank Dale.

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I mean, for me, it's
going to be extraordinary.

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And I'll add this.

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No quarterback ever
wins to get to a point.

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In his career by himself, it is
common to quarterback play running

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the ball, but great defense.

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Now you got, uh, Daniel Turner.

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I mean, Daniel Hunter
on the opposite side.

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Think about how many extra possessions
that's going to equal for CJ Stroud.

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So those are the two teams
I'm going to be looking at.

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And those are the two teams I think
really hit it out of the park and

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free agency with their acquisitions.

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I was

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Alex Hardy: going to wait until
later, but I think you've got a

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perfect mentioning Daniel Hunter.

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I have so many questions, but
I'll just limit it to this

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regarding the Houston Texans.

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Instead of retaining their own
Jonathan Grenard, who's a great

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run stuffer, kind of a do it all
guy that was able to thrive, um,

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in D'Amico Ryan's defensive scheme.

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He goes to Minnesota and Daniel Hunter
from Minnesota moves to Houston,

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basically swap for one another.

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But because it's.

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Essentially a 50 million
fully guaranteed contract.

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Oh, I'm sorry.

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They're 1 million short of fully
guaranteeing it because we don't

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do fully guaranteed contracts.

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You showed us.

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Just, uh, just give him a million
dollars, but that's besides the point.

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For the window that the Texans
have, and it being just a two

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year deal for Deneal Hunter, which
coincidentally, after two years, when C.

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J.

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Stroud is eligible for that
second contract extension, is

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this the window that the Houston
Texans are planting their flag?

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And to steal a quote from Jerry
Jones, they're going all in.

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Nick Ferguson: Absolutely.

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Just look at the surprise
that we saw this past season.

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Rookie

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Alex Hardy: quarterback.

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Yeah.

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Picked last in the division

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Nick Ferguson: before the year.

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Yeah.

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And the rookie offensive coordinator
and look how far they were able to get.

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I mean, we're talking about
maybe a game away from playing

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in the AFC championship game.

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Whoever would have thought that that
was possible with a rookie quarterback.

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But they were able to do it, but they
realized, hey, listen, the problem

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that they had against Baltimore was
they brought pressure, something

227
00:12:55,478 --> 00:12:58,888
that D'Amico Ryans doesn't do in the
defense, and that's not the state

228
00:12:58,928 --> 00:12:59,938
of the defense that he learned.

229
00:13:00,353 --> 00:13:03,663
But he realizes, no, we need to be
able to get after the quarterback.

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And if we can do that, just with
our guys up front, that adds an

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00:13:07,793 --> 00:13:12,013
extra defensive guy to roam across
the middle and still passes.

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00:13:12,133 --> 00:13:17,343
So this, this Hunter move with Anderson,
it could be something that's problematic

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00:13:17,343 --> 00:13:21,703
for opposing quarterbacks, but just enough
to get them where they need to get to.

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00:13:22,598 --> 00:13:26,088
Alex Hardy: That's right, and in
addition to adding Daniil Hunter,

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they added some interior line depth.

236
00:13:29,248 --> 00:13:33,908
The Nico Autry coming over from Dallas,
uh, just really going to solidify that

237
00:13:33,908 --> 00:13:37,408
defensive end while they were adding
more and more pieces to the offense

238
00:13:37,418 --> 00:13:39,338
while retaining guys like Dalton Schultz.

239
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Um, and really, you know, I think,
frankly, Joe Mixon's running style was

240
00:13:44,738 --> 00:13:49,298
a poor fit in Cincinnati in the last
couple of years, and as that true north

241
00:13:49,298 --> 00:13:53,263
south runner, you know, Um, for a Bobby
Slowick offense, like Kyle Shanahan, that

242
00:13:53,263 --> 00:13:57,633
loves to run on first and second down,
um, they'll be successful in the run.

243
00:13:57,978 --> 00:14:04,798
And thereby be more like CJ Stroud's play
action passing can really unlock that

244
00:14:04,878 --> 00:14:07,648
offense when we're in search of big plays.

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00:14:07,908 --> 00:14:10,868
The one running back I didn't mention
when we started talking about that

246
00:14:10,908 --> 00:14:15,528
cluster of money being handed out was
Tony Pollard to the Tennessee Titans.

247
00:14:15,818 --> 00:14:18,348
And that was their first
big move in free agency.

248
00:14:18,568 --> 00:14:24,258
And then once free agency became official,
And that was in due part because of

249
00:14:24,258 --> 00:14:27,458
what the Jacksonville Jaguars were going
to send back to the Atlanta Falcons.

250
00:14:27,738 --> 00:14:32,658
Calvin Ridley, four years, 92
million, and 50 million guaranteed.

251
00:14:32,908 --> 00:14:37,828
So that offense gets an injection of Tony
Pollard, Calvin Ridley, Lloyd Cushenberry

252
00:14:37,858 --> 00:14:41,938
coming from your Denver Broncos, Mason
Rudolph to be a backup for Will Levis.

253
00:14:42,373 --> 00:14:47,373
Have they done enough or is this a good
job by the Tennessee Titans to give

254
00:14:47,373 --> 00:14:52,013
Will Levis support to try to build him
on what they're calling the sophomore

255
00:14:52,013 --> 00:14:53,663
season for their franchise quarterback?

256
00:14:54,043 --> 00:14:57,173
Nick Ferguson: Yeah, Rand Carthon
has done a great job thus far.

257
00:14:57,493 --> 00:15:02,393
I know Will Levis is still taking a
lot of criticism but Go back and watch

258
00:15:02,393 --> 00:15:04,013
that game against the Miami Dolphins.

259
00:15:04,183 --> 00:15:07,793
He really showed the level of
skill and the level of toughness.

260
00:15:08,193 --> 00:15:12,063
And Rand saw that and was like,
Hey, listen, we're just missing a

261
00:15:12,063 --> 00:15:16,073
couple of pieces here and there to
be somewhat competitive and known

262
00:15:16,073 --> 00:15:19,923
as though we're looking at what the
Texans are doing in that same division.

263
00:15:20,233 --> 00:15:21,913
You have to find ways to compete.

264
00:15:21,943 --> 00:15:22,193
Yep.

265
00:15:22,233 --> 00:15:25,943
No, you don't get that blunt
force trauma that you see with

266
00:15:25,953 --> 00:15:27,313
Derrick Henry, but it's there.

267
00:15:27,838 --> 00:15:31,218
Being more explosive from
that running back position.

268
00:15:31,478 --> 00:15:35,468
Once again, think about what we were
talking about earlier in Kirk Cousins.

269
00:15:35,708 --> 00:15:37,068
We talked about Matt LaFleur.

270
00:15:37,078 --> 00:15:38,128
We talked about Bobby Slogan.

271
00:15:38,128 --> 00:15:38,698
He used to text it.

272
00:15:39,018 --> 00:15:44,708
It's somewhat of the same kind of
blueprint and plug and play type of guys.

273
00:15:44,738 --> 00:15:46,028
Now you have Newton Hopkins.

274
00:15:46,028 --> 00:15:47,038
You have Calvin, really.

275
00:15:47,278 --> 00:15:49,618
You have a quarterback that's
mobile, who can throw the ball,

276
00:15:49,688 --> 00:15:50,438
who can affect the defense.

277
00:15:50,983 --> 00:15:52,563
Both vertically and horizontally.

278
00:15:52,813 --> 00:15:55,003
And you have Pollard, who
you can hand the ball to.

279
00:15:55,013 --> 00:15:56,613
Or you can dump it to him in the flats.

280
00:15:57,213 --> 00:16:01,173
It's all about creating an
arsenal that can make defensive

281
00:16:01,203 --> 00:16:02,583
coordinators stay up at night.

282
00:16:02,583 --> 00:16:06,343
And I think the Texans, the Texans are
doing that, you know, with their roster.

283
00:16:06,343 --> 00:16:08,743
And now, Rayne Carthont being another guy.

284
00:16:09,083 --> 00:16:10,853
We spent time in San Francisco.

285
00:16:11,103 --> 00:16:11,653
He knows

286
00:16:11,653 --> 00:16:12,423
Alex Hardy: what it looks like.

287
00:16:13,103 --> 00:16:14,313
I'm sensing a theme.

288
00:16:14,473 --> 00:16:15,973
Uh, I've made this joke to you.

289
00:16:15,973 --> 00:16:18,773
I don't know how many times on the
podcast, but with two thirds of the

290
00:16:18,773 --> 00:16:23,353
league coming from San Francisco or
Shanahan or that tree, we're going to

291
00:16:23,353 --> 00:16:27,733
see a lot of redundancy and certain
players prioritize as we watch guys

292
00:16:27,733 --> 00:16:31,943
like Kirk cousins go from different,
uh, Shanahan systems, one to the next.

293
00:16:32,293 --> 00:16:35,453
Uh, it's important to note
we're, we're talking about.

294
00:16:35,773 --> 00:16:38,623
Competition in the NFC South
and the AFC South with the

295
00:16:38,623 --> 00:16:39,983
moves that they've made so far.

296
00:16:40,493 --> 00:16:45,163
The NFC East had their first
back to back division winner.

297
00:16:45,513 --> 00:16:47,613
In nearly 20.

298
00:16:47,643 --> 00:16:48,343
No, they didn't.

299
00:16:48,353 --> 00:16:49,473
They didn't even do it yet.

300
00:16:49,613 --> 00:16:52,733
We haven't had a back to back division
winner in the NFC East for how long?

301
00:16:52,843 --> 00:16:53,583
My lifetime?

302
00:16:53,603 --> 00:16:54,483
I'm 33 years old.

303
00:16:54,783 --> 00:16:54,933
You're

304
00:16:54,933 --> 00:16:56,713
Nick Ferguson: trying to
forecast it, trying to put

305
00:16:56,713 --> 00:16:57,623
it out there in the universe.

306
00:16:57,983 --> 00:17:02,083
Alex Hardy: Well, listen, they're all,
for the most part, out there swinging.

307
00:17:02,448 --> 00:17:06,268
And then you look at the New York Giants
who made a big swing of their own,

308
00:17:06,328 --> 00:17:12,288
because Saquon Barkley to the Eagles
is huge, um, you know, I, selfishly

309
00:17:12,288 --> 00:17:15,828
for fantasy football purposes, I'm
talking about the Tush Push being

310
00:17:15,828 --> 00:17:18,908
a Jason Kelce play, so I like it.

311
00:17:19,318 --> 00:17:21,328
Saquon Barkley from the 1 yard line.

312
00:17:21,338 --> 00:17:23,328
More than I like Jalen
Hurts from the 1 yard line.

313
00:17:23,458 --> 00:17:24,178
But I digress.

314
00:17:24,408 --> 00:17:25,608
The Eagles have gotten better.

315
00:17:25,738 --> 00:17:29,138
The Cowboys are letting their
guys go to Dan Campbell.

316
00:17:29,378 --> 00:17:31,908
Well, they did add Eric Kendricks,
reuniting with Mike Zimmer.

317
00:17:32,128 --> 00:17:36,008
But the New York Giants are interesting
because with the moves that they've

318
00:17:36,008 --> 00:17:40,673
made so far, There's one that's a little
incongruent with the rest of them,

319
00:17:40,703 --> 00:17:42,323
and it's their biggest splash of all.

320
00:17:42,793 --> 00:17:46,363
They've added Drew Locke from the Denver
Broncos, we mentioned Devin Singletary,

321
00:17:46,363 --> 00:17:51,373
a swing tackle, and Jermaine Illuminor,
who could start, and at 7 million a year

322
00:17:51,373 --> 00:17:55,803
for your left tackle or right tackle if
Evan Neal works out, that's serviceable.

323
00:17:56,233 --> 00:18:00,653
But then they make the big swing, trading
the 39th overall selection to the Carolina

324
00:18:00,653 --> 00:18:06,163
Panthers for Brian Burns, and then adding
him on a five year, 150 million extension.

325
00:18:06,673 --> 00:18:11,943
He's a win now type of player, and
the Giants don't necessarily look to

326
00:18:11,943 --> 00:18:16,653
be there with their own cap purgatory
because of what they gave to Daniel Jones

327
00:18:16,853 --> 00:18:19,083
instead of Saquon Barkley a year ago.

328
00:18:19,523 --> 00:18:25,733
So, the addition of Brian Burns, is
it just premier player at a premium

329
00:18:25,733 --> 00:18:29,703
position, and the Giants had to go
for it because, frankly, the Panthers

330
00:18:29,753 --> 00:18:35,023
Darnold two years ago than they
just got in return for Brian Burns?

331
00:18:35,533 --> 00:18:37,513
Was the asking price too good?

332
00:18:38,063 --> 00:18:43,663
Or the Giants just want to get a player
who's ready for a win now team where the

333
00:18:43,663 --> 00:18:45,383
rest of the roster isn't quite there.

334
00:18:46,743 --> 00:18:48,813
Nick Ferguson: That was
an act of desperation.

335
00:18:49,113 --> 00:18:52,673
Knowing as though your quarterback
and Damian Jones, you paid him

336
00:18:52,673 --> 00:18:56,423
significantly instead of playing
a guy like Saquon Barkley, who's

337
00:18:56,433 --> 00:18:58,453
now gone to your division rival.

338
00:18:58,453 --> 00:19:02,103
So they needed something
to balance things off.

339
00:19:02,163 --> 00:19:04,358
And once again, It's the New York Giants.

340
00:19:04,388 --> 00:19:05,088
It's the G Men.

341
00:19:05,088 --> 00:19:06,538
I mean, you're in the Big Apple.

342
00:19:06,538 --> 00:19:11,948
Yeah, you wanted to make somewhat of a
big splash because you knew that when you

343
00:19:11,948 --> 00:19:16,038
were losing a marquee player at Saquon
Barkley, and you wanted to make the fan

344
00:19:16,038 --> 00:19:20,658
base feel happy about something because,
you Your offense might stink again.

345
00:19:20,958 --> 00:19:24,848
So if you got K'Vaughn Thibodeau on
one side and Brian Burns on the other,

346
00:19:25,148 --> 00:19:29,168
you hope that it's enough to neutralize
the Cowboys, whatever the commanders

347
00:19:29,168 --> 00:19:30,418
do at the quarterback position.

348
00:19:30,648 --> 00:19:34,208
But more importantly, the team
that is your biggest threat and

349
00:19:34,208 --> 00:19:35,698
probably your biggest rival.

350
00:19:36,098 --> 00:19:37,508
And the Philadelphia Eagles.

351
00:19:37,518 --> 00:19:41,648
So you needed something or
someone to help balance things.

352
00:19:41,648 --> 00:19:46,768
And for me, that was one of those games
I am going to circle on my calendar.

353
00:19:46,968 --> 00:19:49,488
I hope that it's a Sunday
night or Monday night game.

354
00:19:49,748 --> 00:19:52,418
Both times the Eagles face
off against the Giants.

355
00:19:52,628 --> 00:19:53,958
And I will talk to the Giants in

356
00:19:54,008 --> 00:19:55,098
Alex Hardy: too many primetime games.

357
00:19:55,098 --> 00:19:55,478
Okay.

358
00:19:55,973 --> 00:19:56,413
Well,

359
00:19:56,463 --> 00:19:59,323
Nick Ferguson: I don't want to, but
just for the mere factor of just

360
00:19:59,593 --> 00:20:01,603
seeing what was going to happen, right?

361
00:20:01,783 --> 00:20:07,543
And I definitely want, when Saquon Barkley
goes back to MetLife Stadium, I want

362
00:20:07,553 --> 00:20:09,513
Tiki Barber right there on the sidelines.

363
00:20:09,793 --> 00:20:13,803
I want to see what That, that, that
exchange is going to be, because

364
00:20:13,803 --> 00:20:18,413
I thought Tiki Barber Barber was
totally wrong in saying, so, Hey,

365
00:20:18,473 --> 00:20:23,323
listen, basically kind of diminishing
and undermining Saquon Barkley.

366
00:20:23,323 --> 00:20:24,833
Like you're no longer a giant.

367
00:20:25,153 --> 00:20:26,153
First of all, you know,

368
00:20:26,153 --> 00:20:27,763
Alex Hardy: yeah,

369
00:20:27,943 --> 00:20:28,743
Nick Ferguson: I mean, come on, man.

370
00:20:28,743 --> 00:20:29,573
We know how this works.

371
00:20:30,148 --> 00:20:33,228
The Giants had an opportunity to give
Saquon whatever money they thought

372
00:20:33,228 --> 00:20:35,508
he earned, but they didn't do it.

373
00:20:35,678 --> 00:20:39,928
So, he opted to go to a place
that has a better offensive line,

374
00:20:40,188 --> 00:20:41,798
arguably a better quarterback.

375
00:20:41,998 --> 00:20:43,388
He was just a missing piece.

376
00:20:43,398 --> 00:20:45,548
So, I can't wait to see that clash.

377
00:20:45,688 --> 00:20:48,928
Alex Hardy: Yeah, this coming from the
guy who will leave the off field stuff.

378
00:20:48,928 --> 00:20:51,478
You can Google him and
figure that out yourself.

379
00:20:51,488 --> 00:20:56,298
But, he retired saying that he did
not like the direction of the Giants.

380
00:20:56,663 --> 00:20:58,613
And they won the Super Bowl the next year.

381
00:20:58,873 --> 00:21:00,503
I was happy for Michael Strahan.

382
00:21:00,533 --> 00:21:03,303
Well, even still, I forget who they beat.

383
00:21:03,323 --> 00:21:05,723
I don't really remember
what happened, but um,

384
00:21:05,723 --> 00:21:10,173
Nick Ferguson: If

385
00:21:10,173 --> 00:21:12,603
Alex Hardy: you do want to find
out, make sure you listen to

386
00:21:12,623 --> 00:21:17,083
those guys recapping the Patriots
Dynasty documentary on Apple TV.

387
00:21:17,653 --> 00:21:22,093
Every week we recap the latest that
you get from the documentary from the

388
00:21:22,093 --> 00:21:26,473
perspective of myself, Alex Hardy,
a Patriots fan, and Nick Ferguson,

389
00:21:26,803 --> 00:21:33,733
A former NFL safety who was against
lining up against Tom Brady in his

390
00:21:33,743 --> 00:21:35,733
NFL debut with those New York jets.

391
00:21:35,993 --> 00:21:39,653
And, uh, we also, for whatever reason,
the camera kind of cuts off for one of

392
00:21:39,653 --> 00:21:44,373
this big play he made with the Denver
Broncos champ Bailey was on his way to the

393
00:21:44,373 --> 00:21:46,013
end zone and then the camera just cuts.

394
00:21:46,433 --> 00:21:48,763
So I don't know what happened there.

395
00:21:48,963 --> 00:21:49,763
Must've scored.

396
00:21:49,993 --> 00:21:52,693
Uh, I'm going to make
a cut to myself there.

397
00:21:52,843 --> 00:21:55,473
I want to wrap things up before
we get to Nick, before we split.

398
00:21:56,293 --> 00:22:01,583
There's so much action that's, that's
still yet to come here in free agency.

399
00:22:01,793 --> 00:22:06,583
But I know that even more exciting
than free agency for fans.

400
00:22:06,943 --> 00:22:09,803
And teams in general is the NFL draft.

401
00:22:10,123 --> 00:22:13,873
And I kind of want to position us,
Nick, to look at the top of the draft.

402
00:22:14,173 --> 00:22:19,593
Um, the first three picks with the Chicago
bears, with that Panthers selection, the

403
00:22:20,183 --> 00:22:25,383
Washington commanders, number two, and the
New England Patriots picking third based.

404
00:22:25,623 --> 00:22:29,793
I'm going to just, we'll go team by team
kind of quickly here based on their moves.

405
00:22:30,303 --> 00:22:35,423
I want us to figure out if they're getting
closer to ultimately drafting their future

406
00:22:35,433 --> 00:22:39,773
franchise quarterback, their signal caller
based on the moves that we've seen so far.

407
00:22:39,953 --> 00:22:43,613
And then we're certainly, as we continue
here on those guys going to position,

408
00:22:43,613 --> 00:22:44,943
Nick's going to be grinding tape.

409
00:22:45,133 --> 00:22:49,233
I'm going to bring my own opinions as
well as to what we think, uh, of the

410
00:22:49,263 --> 00:22:53,293
quarterback and other elite prospects at
the receiver position, offensive line.

411
00:22:53,513 --> 00:22:53,823
And.

412
00:22:54,228 --> 00:22:56,458
We might even get a defensive
player in the top 10.

413
00:22:56,508 --> 00:22:56,938
We might.

414
00:22:57,098 --> 00:22:57,768
We just might.

415
00:22:58,288 --> 00:23:01,908
Starting with the Chicago Bears,
Nick, they retain Jalen Johnson.

416
00:23:02,188 --> 00:23:07,808
They, which was a big deal for them,
a player that they had franchised.

417
00:23:08,038 --> 00:23:11,298
Then they make a big splash,
DeAndre Swift on a three year deal.

418
00:23:11,528 --> 00:23:13,418
They trade for Ryan Bates.

419
00:23:13,458 --> 00:23:16,878
They sign Kevin Byard, Jonathan
Owens for the secondary.

420
00:23:17,268 --> 00:23:20,448
And they've got a quarterback
on the roster, Brett Rippin.

421
00:23:21,133 --> 00:23:26,213
So with what they've done so far in
free agency, how does that align with

422
00:23:26,213 --> 00:23:31,343
picking first overall, uh, knowing that
Justin Fields hasn't gone anywhere yet?

423
00:23:32,383 --> 00:23:35,693
Nick Ferguson: It just shows that they
realized that, you know, they had some

424
00:23:35,723 --> 00:23:37,403
options from a defensive standpoint.

425
00:23:37,443 --> 00:23:43,333
They added mantras of sweat
from the commanders last year

426
00:23:43,593 --> 00:23:48,463
and gave him a new deal and he
performed better than expected.

427
00:23:48,483 --> 00:23:49,583
So they're trying to.

428
00:23:49,948 --> 00:23:53,588
Build the monster of the midway
again from a defensive standpoint.

429
00:23:53,728 --> 00:23:54,258
Sounds good.

430
00:23:54,468 --> 00:23:58,028
So, so great, so great additions, but
the biggest issue is what they're going

431
00:23:58,028 --> 00:23:59,868
to do in the quarterback position.

432
00:23:59,898 --> 00:24:03,628
And I have to say, I really don't
trust the Bears because no matter who

433
00:24:03,628 --> 00:24:10,503
has been, uh, the, the GM, uh, Ryan
Pace, polls or anyone before them.

434
00:24:10,793 --> 00:24:14,673
They've never made great decisions when
it came to the quarterback position

435
00:24:14,913 --> 00:24:17,503
and they never really surrounded
that quarterback with talent.

436
00:24:17,533 --> 00:24:21,023
So it's going to be interesting to see
what they do, but I can tell you this.

437
00:24:21,038 --> 00:24:24,338
Trevor Simeon is not going to be
the guy that leads them anywhere.

438
00:24:24,588 --> 00:24:27,108
It's going to have to be a
Justin Fields or Caleb Williams.

439
00:24:27,828 --> 00:24:31,318
Alex Hardy: Yeah, it's interesting because
we really have, I believe this is year

440
00:24:31,398 --> 00:24:37,628
two with Kevin Warren, the former big 10
commissioner who now comes in, uh, as the

441
00:24:37,638 --> 00:24:39,758
president and chief executive officer.

442
00:24:40,468 --> 00:24:45,138
Leading their front office for
decades were non football people.

443
00:24:45,168 --> 00:24:49,618
So I'm curious to see where the
direction goes now that he's looking

444
00:24:49,618 --> 00:24:52,068
to put his stamp on that organization.

445
00:24:52,118 --> 00:24:55,678
And as far as Justin Fields,
he's not going anywhere just yet.

446
00:24:55,928 --> 00:24:59,888
The fact that Caleb Williams did
not do his medicals at the combine,

447
00:25:00,218 --> 00:25:02,048
listen, we saw it on the field.

448
00:25:02,058 --> 00:25:05,468
It's not an injury rap sheet as long
as Michael panics is or anyone's,

449
00:25:05,638 --> 00:25:09,068
but you just have to do your due
diligence and make sure that.

450
00:25:09,488 --> 00:25:13,578
Everything checks out with Caleb before
you move on from a guy like Justin Fields.

451
00:25:13,588 --> 00:25:18,548
So whether it's tempering the market
or not having the medicals, uh, I do

452
00:25:18,548 --> 00:25:21,618
believe that it's Caleb Williams with
the first overall selection to the

453
00:25:21,618 --> 00:25:23,418
Chicago bears, not trading that pick.

454
00:25:23,768 --> 00:25:26,428
But we're not going to
see a Justin Fields trade.

455
00:25:26,568 --> 00:25:28,118
You know, I wouldn't
hold your breath for it.

456
00:25:28,498 --> 00:25:31,318
The Washington commander
is picking second overall.

457
00:25:31,578 --> 00:25:35,778
They have a new coach in Dan
Quinn coming from the Cowboys.

458
00:25:36,008 --> 00:25:40,778
And you see that with their acquisitions,
uh, getting a few guys formerly of the

459
00:25:40,778 --> 00:25:42,648
Cowboys, including the starting center.

460
00:25:42,978 --> 00:25:47,358
Um, they add another backup
quarterback and Marcus Mariota.

461
00:25:47,728 --> 00:25:49,908
Their splashes have kind of been.

462
00:25:50,278 --> 00:25:55,058
At tertiary positions, Austin Eckler to
pair with Brian Robinson as Antonio Gibson

463
00:25:55,058 --> 00:25:56,818
is on the move, we'll get to him shortly.

464
00:25:57,158 --> 00:26:00,508
While adding Nick Allegretti, who
won a Super Bowl on the offensive

465
00:26:00,508 --> 00:26:02,018
line for the Kansas City Chiefs.

466
00:26:02,268 --> 00:26:06,098
And then other pieces on mostly
one year deals, like Jeremy Chin,

467
00:26:06,128 --> 00:26:09,878
Cleland Farrell, and the kicker,
Broncos legend Brandon McManus.

468
00:26:10,208 --> 00:26:16,133
So, Sitting second overall, based on
what you've seen with this brand new

469
00:26:16,133 --> 00:26:20,563
organization, new ownership, new head
coach, new general manager, Adam Peters

470
00:26:20,563 --> 00:26:22,713
coming from the 49ers organization.

471
00:26:23,643 --> 00:26:26,823
Do they look like they're positioning
themselves to have their pick of

472
00:26:26,823 --> 00:26:29,618
either Jaden Daniels or Drake May.

473
00:26:30,398 --> 00:26:31,358
Nick Ferguson: Absolutely.

474
00:26:31,358 --> 00:26:35,258
And just add the fact that
they just recently traded Sam

475
00:26:35,258 --> 00:26:35,808
Alex Hardy: Howell.

476
00:26:36,138 --> 00:26:36,678
That's right.

477
00:26:36,728 --> 00:26:37,948
That's, that's the latest news.

478
00:26:37,948 --> 00:26:38,238
Yeah.

479
00:26:38,238 --> 00:26:42,208
Nick Ferguson: So that opens the window.

480
00:26:42,208 --> 00:26:45,328
And I think having a guy
like Marcus Mariota, they're

481
00:26:45,338 --> 00:26:46,638
breaking case of emergency.

482
00:26:46,638 --> 00:26:50,318
He's a guy who's very mobile and you got
to think about what Cliff Kingsbury wants

483
00:26:50,318 --> 00:26:52,168
to do from that quarterback position.

484
00:26:52,518 --> 00:26:56,943
So for me, While everyone's kind of
penciled Drake May into that slot,

485
00:26:57,163 --> 00:27:01,103
I think that's more of a spot for
Jaden Daniels because he fits more

486
00:27:01,503 --> 00:27:04,003
of what Cliff Kingbury wants to do.

487
00:27:04,013 --> 00:27:07,973
Especially, once again, known
as though you just added Marcus

488
00:27:07,983 --> 00:27:11,993
Mariota, who is a dual threat
quarterback, to that of the mix.

489
00:27:12,003 --> 00:27:14,743
So the idea is start the
basic building blocks.

490
00:27:15,253 --> 00:27:19,603
Try to establish a competitive team
and then see what you have or what you

491
00:27:19,613 --> 00:27:22,583
need or what your needs are in 2025.

492
00:27:22,613 --> 00:27:24,763
But I like what the
commanders have done thus far.

493
00:27:25,343 --> 00:27:29,053
Alex Hardy: Now, re signing your
own players is a good thing, but for

494
00:27:29,053 --> 00:27:32,443
the New England Patriots, bringing
back the majority of a four win

495
00:27:32,453 --> 00:27:36,743
team from a year ago, let's see how
you feel about this, Nick Ferguson.

496
00:27:36,763 --> 00:27:40,963
Mike Onwenu, Kyle Dugger, and
Hunter Henry were three of their

497
00:27:40,973 --> 00:27:43,883
biggest free agents and three of
their biggest positional needs.

498
00:27:44,198 --> 00:27:45,268
And they're all coming back.

499
00:27:45,578 --> 00:27:48,798
Um, the on one new deal compared to some
of the other guard money that went around.

500
00:27:49,068 --> 00:27:52,148
Part of that being the Carolina
Panthers, having to pay out their nose to

501
00:27:52,148 --> 00:27:54,128
convince guys to come to a one win team.

502
00:27:54,478 --> 00:27:59,008
The on one new deal, three years, 57
million for a guy that's played three

503
00:27:59,008 --> 00:28:02,598
of the offensive line positions so
far, I think is great value for them.

504
00:28:02,598 --> 00:28:04,178
And he's, he's an excellent player.

505
00:28:04,698 --> 00:28:09,208
They retained Kendrick Bourne,
Hunter Henry, Anthony Jennings, Kyle

506
00:28:09,208 --> 00:28:12,408
Duggar on the one year transition
tag, understanding they saved

507
00:28:12,408 --> 00:28:14,048
themselves a couple million dollars.

508
00:28:14,343 --> 00:28:20,033
Based on the safety market, uh, Jacoby
Brissett comes back after being drafted

509
00:28:20,033 --> 00:28:23,223
by this team and they add other pieces.

510
00:28:23,413 --> 00:28:25,223
Chuck Sikora for from the Steelers.

511
00:28:25,253 --> 00:28:27,983
Oh, I forgot Josh Uche, the
pass rusher who had 11 and a

512
00:28:27,983 --> 00:28:29,913
half sacks in 2022 is back.

513
00:28:30,283 --> 00:28:35,613
Uh, Austin Hooper, uh, the tight
end, and then a couple of linebackers

514
00:28:35,613 --> 00:28:37,783
and Sione Takitaki from the Browns.

515
00:28:38,153 --> 00:28:44,233
Um, just a mix of additions, but
many key re signings in my opinion.

516
00:28:44,548 --> 00:28:48,438
But, now that they're sitting third
overall, Jacoby Brissett is their

517
00:28:48,448 --> 00:28:53,038
bridge quarterback, Bailey Zappi's
still under contract, Mack Jones

518
00:28:53,038 --> 00:28:56,028
was traded to the Jacksonville
Jaguars for a sixth round pick.

519
00:28:56,768 --> 00:29:00,158
How important do you think it is for
the Patriots to find a quarterback at

520
00:29:00,158 --> 00:29:04,963
third overall, or to move down and to
continue adding pieces to this roster?

521
00:29:09,133 --> 00:29:13,553
Nick Ferguson: I think that's kind of
the idea, because Jerron Mayo, obviously

522
00:29:13,553 --> 00:29:18,883
a lifer for the Patriots, he understands
what he has in a lot of those guys, and

523
00:29:18,883 --> 00:29:20,873
retaining your own talent is so important.

524
00:29:21,253 --> 00:29:23,973
So, the Patriots find
themselves in a great spot.

525
00:29:23,973 --> 00:29:28,568
You have Jacoby Brissett, Who is an
excellent bridge player for the Patriots.

526
00:29:28,578 --> 00:29:33,618
He understands the Patriots way, and
he could be that guy to lead the team

527
00:29:33,618 --> 00:29:35,848
until that rookie quarterback is ready.

528
00:29:36,068 --> 00:29:39,968
So for the Patriots and Jerrod Mayo,
they can actually stand where they

529
00:29:39,968 --> 00:29:43,888
are and draft a quarterback or say,
you know what, let's see what other

530
00:29:43,888 --> 00:29:46,768
teams are desperate to move up, right?

531
00:29:46,978 --> 00:29:48,158
And we still can get.

532
00:29:48,473 --> 00:29:54,113
One of our guys, because I'm sure they've
looked at this quarterback draft class and

533
00:29:54,113 --> 00:29:58,483
say, look, if this is our guy number one,
who's our guy number two and guy number

534
00:29:58,483 --> 00:30:03,633
three, they're willing to take that chance
to move back to make that team or make

535
00:30:03,633 --> 00:30:05,303
this team, you know, that much better.

536
00:30:05,303 --> 00:30:07,163
But then they're in a great position.

537
00:30:07,163 --> 00:30:07,573
I like that.

538
00:30:07,793 --> 00:30:11,223
The move that they made and
the talkie talkie kid, man.

539
00:30:11,223 --> 00:30:15,613
I got a chance to watch him when he came
to Denver playing against the Broncos.

540
00:30:15,833 --> 00:30:19,253
I mean, a linebacker that can
get on the move and get downhill.

541
00:30:19,253 --> 00:30:20,323
And who's the head coach.

542
00:30:20,713 --> 00:30:21,603
Gerard Mayo.

543
00:30:21,753 --> 00:30:22,983
What position did he play?

544
00:30:23,193 --> 00:30:24,703
Yeah, he's a linebacker.

545
00:30:24,803 --> 00:30:27,973
Right, so he's trying to find
someone that reminds him and

546
00:30:27,973 --> 00:30:29,753
have that same skill set he has.

547
00:30:30,003 --> 00:30:32,333
But man, what a hell of
a name for a linebacker.

548
00:30:34,373 --> 00:30:35,483
Alex Hardy: He's Nick Ferguson.

549
00:30:35,683 --> 00:30:36,603
I'm Alex Hardy.

550
00:30:36,873 --> 00:30:41,213
We'll get to more NFL free agency as
we continue those guys, as well as

551
00:30:41,213 --> 00:30:44,733
looking ahead to the draft on more than
just, you know, the top three teams.

552
00:30:45,063 --> 00:30:47,193
But now it's time for
Nick before we split.

553
00:30:47,423 --> 00:30:50,643
You mentioned some snow on
the ground there in Denver.

554
00:30:50,813 --> 00:30:55,543
So Nick, before we split, give me your
favorite outdoor activity in the snow.

555
00:30:55,693 --> 00:30:58,763
My personal favorite, sitting
inside and watch it come down.

556
00:30:58,993 --> 00:31:01,003
Not eligible for your choices here.

557
00:31:01,783 --> 00:31:06,143
Nick Ferguson: Well, Alex, uh, I
have taken a page out of your book.

558
00:31:06,143 --> 00:31:11,333
So I like you like to see it fall from
the sky, but not really get involved

559
00:31:11,333 --> 00:31:12,693
with the activities on the snow.

560
00:31:13,423 --> 00:31:13,803
Alex Hardy: Okay.

561
00:31:13,823 --> 00:31:15,693
So just watching your
cold breath come out.

562
00:31:15,883 --> 00:31:18,053
That's, that's, that's,
that's Nick Ferguson.

563
00:31:18,133 --> 00:31:18,343
Yes.

564
00:31:18,873 --> 00:31:19,194
That's the

565
00:31:19,194 --> 00:31:20,877
Nick Ferguson: most exciting
thing that I'll take

566
00:31:20,877 --> 00:31:21,158
Alex Hardy: away.

567
00:31:21,158 --> 00:31:25,365
It happened on the football field and
many cold games in Denver and New York.

568
00:31:25,365 --> 00:31:29,012
Uh, and it also happens when you're
watching your kid shovel the driveway.

569
00:31:29,012 --> 00:31:32,533
He's Nick Ferguson, longtime NFL safety.

570
00:31:32,673 --> 00:31:36,433
You can follow him at Nick Ferguson,
underscore 25 breaking down tape.

571
00:31:36,758 --> 00:31:41,038
Answering questions about his Broncos or
any questions you have about your team.

572
00:31:41,318 --> 00:31:43,628
Uh, one of the best
follows on social media.

573
00:31:43,638 --> 00:31:44,618
I'm Alex Hardy.

574
00:31:44,868 --> 00:31:47,888
Make sure you keep it locked
here throughout the NFL off

575
00:31:47,888 --> 00:31:49,808
season, which no days off.

576
00:31:49,818 --> 00:31:50,838
Thank you, Bill Belichick.

577
00:31:51,068 --> 00:31:53,858
As we approach the draft, continuing
through free agency with a number

578
00:31:53,858 --> 00:31:55,008
of big names still out there.

579
00:31:55,198 --> 00:31:58,798
And I mentioned it before, but you
can also listen to our recaps of

580
00:31:58,798 --> 00:32:03,188
the Patriots dynasty, the rise of
Tom Brady's career and the fall of

581
00:32:03,188 --> 00:32:05,168
the Bill Belichick Patriots, where.

582
00:32:05,543 --> 00:32:07,533
There's a reason why they're
picking third overall.

583
00:32:07,573 --> 00:32:10,513
And he's watching, you
know, from the sidelines.

584
00:32:10,813 --> 00:32:13,063
Sorry, no longer watching
from the sidelines.

585
00:32:13,823 --> 00:32:15,983
Until next time, we're those guys.

586
00:32:16,143 --> 00:32:18,003
Nick Ferguson, what do you
have to say to the people?

587
00:32:18,803 --> 00:32:20,583
Nick Ferguson: Hey, stay warm.

588
00:32:20,703 --> 00:32:25,933
And if you live in those warm places,
like Alex, now it's time to use your AC.

589
00:32:26,723 --> 00:32:28,873
Alex Hardy: It was supposed
to be 80 degrees today.

590
00:32:29,143 --> 00:32:30,493
I got to settle for 70.

591
00:32:33,053 --> 00:32:33,893
Nick Ferguson: Poor you.