PodcastFrom NFL: The Insiders
The Insiders Podcast: QB Competitions & Jared Goff and Deuce McCallister Join the Insiders!
STACKED extracted the fantasy-relevant player signal from this podcast and kept the full transcript here for context.
43 min
Duration
Estimated from transcript
Jul 21, 2026
Published
Tue, July 21, 2026
37
Player insights
33
Players mentioned
Topics
Alvin KamaraDeshaun WatsonJ.J. McCarthyKyler MurrayAaron RodgersByron YoungCalais CampbellCarson BeckChase YoungChris OlaveDevonte WyattDrake LondonFernando MendozaGeorge Kittle
Player analysis
Player insights
Aaron Rodgers
NegativeInjury11:28
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is referenced as having suffered an ACL injury at MetLife Stadium on artificial turf, part of a pattern of notable injuries on that surface including Malik Nabors, Nick Bosa, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Sterling Shepard.
Insight pageAlvin Kamara
PositiveRole14:30
Saints running back Alvin Kamara is back for another season with New Orleans, continuing his tenure with the team.
Insight pagePositiveRole30:00
Kamara reworked his contract to remain with the Saints in 2026 after his status was uncertain. Deuce McAllister notes Kamara 'still has something left in the tank' and will partner with Travis Etienne to give the Saints the one-two RB duo the offense has lacked. McAllister expects Kamara's partnership with Etienne to take pressure off Kamara as the lead guy.
Insight pageByron Young
PositiveProjection5:01
Rams third-year edge rusher Byron Young is coming off a 12-sack season with 27.5 sacks in three years. With Myles Garrett on the other side drawing defensive attention, Young's sack numbers could continue to increase. However, at 28 years old, he is relatively old for a third-year player.
Insight pageCalais Campbell
NegativeDepth Chart41:49
Calais Campbell is part of the Ravens' defensive rebuild under new head coach Jesse Minter, who must get the defense right after Baltimore's defensive struggles last season.
Insight pageCarson Beck
NegativeRole3:48
Cardinals backup quarterback Carson Beck could potentially challenge Jacoby Brissett for the starting job if Brissett does not take first-team reps due to ongoing contract negotiations. The extent to which Beck benefits from additional reps remains uncertain.
Insight pageChase Young
PositiveRole34:10
Young is on the other edge opposite Cam Jordan and 'really came into his own last season' with big things expected from him in 2026. Judy Batista highlights Young's emergence as part of the Saints' strong defensive edge rotation.
Insight pageChris Olave
PositiveRole32:30
Alave is one of two top receiving options for the Saints alongside first-round draft pick Jordan Tyson. Judy Batista notes the Saints 'got two guys who can really go' with Alave and Tyson, addressing the need for explosive plays on the outside.
Insight pageDeshaun Watson
NegativeRole19:31
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is healthy and competing against second-year quarterback Shadur Sanders in a true quarterback competition heading into training camp. Watson seemed to take an early lead in the spring, but Sanders made up ground, and coach Todd Monken wanted to see more work before naming a starter.
Insight pageNegativeDepth Chart20:20
Watson is favored to win the Browns QB competition over Shador Sanders despite Sanders' youth and recent flashes. Mark Ross notes the Browns' $233 million investment in Watson makes him the likely starter if the competition remains open, though Sanders showed promise in OTAs with improved mobility after back-to-back Achilles injuries.
Insight pageDevonte Wyatt
PositiveRole0:39
Packers defensive end Devontae Wyatt agreed to a new three-year, $57 million contract extension with $20 million in a signing bonus. Wyatt was coming off the best season of his career, overcoming a broken leg at the end of the prior season, and is now locked in as a budding star for Green Bay.
Insight pageDrake London
PositiveRole25:50
London is part of the Falcons' receiving corps and has shown good chemistry with Michael Penix Jr. during the QB's limited time on the field. Mark Ross mentions the 'rejuvenated' connection between Penix and London as a positive sign for the offense.
Insight pageFernando Mendoza
PositiveRole28:00
Mendoza, the Raiders' top draft pick, is expected to eventually become the starter despite Kirk Cousins being named the current starter. Mark Ross argues Mendoza 'has to be the guy' and that Clint Kubiak took the Raiders job specifically for Mendoza, not Cousins. Mendoza had significant college success and playing time, and recent rookie QB trends (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, Drake May) show year-two success after year-one struggles.
Insight pageGeorge Kittle
PositiveMatchup10:10
49ers tight end George Kittle voiced support on social media for natural grass fields in NFL stadiums, stating 'Grass still looks great. Let's use grass instead of turf,' following the World Cup's use of natural grass at MetLife Stadium.
Insight pageJ.J. McCarthy
NegativeRole3:55
Vikings second-year quarterback JJ McCarthy is in a major training camp quarterback battle with Kyler Murray. The competition will continue throughout camp, preseason games, and up to the start of the season, with the outcome having wide-ranging ramifications for the organization.
Insight pageNegativeDepth Chart23:00
McCarthy, drafted 10th overall by Minnesota, is competing with Kyler Murray for the starting job. The Vikings' investment in McCarthy at that draft position suggests they want him to be the long-term starter, but he's sharing 50-50 reps in training camp. Stacy Dales notes the reduced reps mean less room for error as McCarthy learns the new offense.
Insight pageJacoby Brissett
NegativeRole3:21
Cardinals starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett has been in contract negotiations with Arizona for several months, trying to secure more money as the team's starter. As of training camp, the Cardinals do not have Brissett under a contract he would want to play under, creating drama around whether he will take first-team reps and whether backup Carson Beck could challenge him.
Insight pageJames Cook
PositiveProjection37:30
Cook led the league with over 1,600 rushing yards in 2025, anchoring the Bills' number-one rushing attack. Stacy Dales describes Cook as 'sensational' and notes the Bills' rushing dominance was a key part of their fourth-best overall offense.
Insight pageJared Goff
PositiveRole5:45
Goff is the established starting quarterback for Detroit entering the 2025 season after the Lions missed the playoffs in 2024 despite a 9-8 record. He emphasized the team's hunger to win the division and return to the playoffs, highlighting his collaborative relationship with new offensive coordinator Drew Pretzing and praising his weapons, particularly Amon Ross St. Brown, whom he called the best wide receiver in the league.
Insight pageJimmy Garoppolo
NegativeInjury11:28
Jimmy Garoppolo suffered an ankle injury at MetLife Stadium on artificial turf, part of a pattern of notable injuries on that surface that has reignited the debate over playing surfaces in NFL stadiums.
Insight pageJonathan Taylor
PositiveMatchup10:25
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor voiced support on social media for natural grass fields in NFL stadiums, stating 'natural grass is an out of reach. Prioritizing players shouldn't be either. We are worth the cost,' advocating for player safety and natural grass installation.
Insight pageJordyn Tyson
PositiveRole32:30
Tyson was drafted in the first round by the Saints to address the need for explosive receiving options. Judy Batista notes the Saints 'got two guys who can really go' with Tyson and Chris Alave, and Deuce McAllister emphasizes the critical importance of adding speed on the outside to help the young QB and take pressure off the running game.
Insight pageJosh Allen
PositiveProjection36:40
Allen had an MVP-level 2025 season with 39 total touchdowns (25 passing, 14 rushing) under Joe Brady's offensive system. Stacy Dales notes the Bills' continuity with Brady as head coach is designed to maintain the trust and foundation between the play caller and the MVP-caliber QB, with the fourth-best offense in football last year.
Insight pageJustin Jefferson
NegativeProjection24:00
Jefferson experienced a down 2025 season with career lows in efficiency despite staying over 1,000 receiving yards. Stacy Dales highlights his 12.5 yards per catch and just 2 receiving touchdowns as frustrating production, noting the key question for the Vikings is which QB (Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy) will have the best chemistry with Jefferson going forward.
Insight pageKirk Cousins
NegativeRole28:00
Cousins is named the current starter for the Raiders by head coach Clint Kubiak, who coached him to a Pro Bowl in Minnesota. Stacy Dales notes Kubiak has stated Cousins will teach and mentor rookie Fernando Mendoza, with the expectation that Mendoza will eventually take over. Cousins is being paid to mentor and lead while Mendoza develops.
Insight pageKyle Pitts
PositiveRole25:50
Pitts is described as 'rejuvenated' in the Falcons offense and has shown good chemistry with Michael Penix Jr. Mark Ross highlights the connection between Penix and Pitts as part of the promising offensive potential.
Insight pageKyler Murray
NegativeRole3:55
Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray is part of a major training camp storyline involving a quarterback battle with second-year quarterback JJ McCarthy. The outcome of this competition will have wide-ranging ramifications for the organization and will go a long way in determining how the Vikings perform.
Insight pagePositiveRole23:00
Murray is competing with J.J. McCarthy for the Vikings starting job and is viewed as giving Minnesota the best chance to win, especially given their strong defense. Mark Ross notes Murray needs to get more comfortable and consistent, but his playmaking ability is valuable. However, Murray is in an unusual situation sharing 50-50 reps as a veteran who has always been a starter.
Insight pageLamar Jackson
PositiveRole40:46
Lamar Jackson's game is expected to reach another level under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle in Baltimore; the franchise quarterback is positioned to benefit from the coordinator change as the Ravens aim to break through in a crowded AFC field.
Insight pageMalik Nabers
NegativeInjury11:28
Malik Nabors suffered an ACL injury at MetLife Stadium on artificial turf, part of a pattern of notable injuries on that surface that has reignited the debate over playing surfaces in NFL stadiums.
Insight pageMichael Penix Jr.
NegativeDepth Chart25:00
Penix, drafted 8th overall by the Falcons, is competing with Tua Tagovailoa for the starting job. Mark Ross notes Penix showed promise in his limited time, particularly with connections to Drake London and Kyle Pitts, but the competition will come down to health—Penix is coming off injury and Tua has a long injury history.
Insight pageNick Bosa
NegativeInjury11:28
49ers defensive end Nick Bosa suffered an ACL injury at MetLife Stadium on artificial turf, part of a pattern of notable injuries on that surface that has reignited the debate over playing surfaces in NFL stadiums.
Insight pageSterling Shepard
NegativeInjury11:45
Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard suffered two injuries on MetLife Stadium artificial turf, part of a pattern of notable injuries on that surface that has reignited the debate over playing surfaces in NFL stadiums.
Insight pageTravis Etienne
PositiveRole30:00
Etienne joins the Saints as a newcomer to pair with Alvin Kamara in the backfield. Deuce McAllister expects Etienne to add explosiveness to the Saints running game and take pressure off Kamara, giving the offense the one-two RB duo it has lacked in recent years.
Insight pageTua Tagovailoa
NegativeRole25:00
Tagovailoa is competing with Michael Penix Jr. for the Falcons starting job after a disappointing 2025 season. Mark Ross notes Tua looked 'almost like a shot fighter' last year, lacking the quick mind and quick release he showed earlier in his career. Stacy Dales adds Tua is roughly 9 months into ACL rehabilitation (his third career ACL injury) and will need to be eased back in despite being cleared to throw in March.
Insight pageTucker Kraft
PositiveRole18:35
Packers tight end Tucker Kraft, coming off a torn ACL, is now a target for a contract extension from Green Bay. The hope is that at some point before the season, he will be the latest Packer to cash in on a huge deal, following Devontae Wyatt's recent extension.
Insight pageZion Young
NegativeDepth Chart41:56
Zion Young, a second-round rookie, is part of the Ravens' defensive rebuild under new head coach Jesse Minter, who must get the defense right after Baltimore's defensive struggles last season.
Insight pageFull transcript
Episode Transcript
0:00This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed Human. No playoffs in 2025 led to changes entering the 26th season for Detroit.
0:06Lions quarterback Jared Goff joins us to explain how they plan to get their groove back in Motown.
0:12Oh, and we can't stop talking about quarterbacks or the teams that haven't settled on theirs.
0:17With the true competition set to begin as camps open, our experts break down the battles.
0:22That's right. We're going head over heels as we get ready for the The Insiders.
0:27Or are we? Welcome to Monday here on the Insiders.
0:30We move one day closer to the training camp.
0:33I am joined by our insiders Ian Rappaport and Judy Batista who can't get enough of watching Cam Wolf do his thing.
0:39We'll get to him later because new today, the Packers and defensive end Devontae Wyatt have agreed to terms on a new
0:46three-year, $57 million contract according to Ian Rapoport. Wyatt was entering the final year of his rookie deal and the Packers rookies,
0:53they report to camp a week from today on July 27th with the veterans arriving on the 28th.
0:59And news out of Seattle, Seahawks second year safety Nick Emanwari, one of the top young defenders in the NFL, will enter
1:06training camp on the physically unable to perform list a team announced today.
1:10Per rules, Emanwari can be activated at any point during camp when he is medically cleared.
1:15All right, let's take a look at the teams that are going to be reporting to training camp.
1:20You see the Seahawks and Niners rookies already getting to work.
1:24And a little bit later on, the four rosters for the Panthers and the Cardinals will be getting it going as they're
1:31the first teams to kick off our preseason of the Pro Football Hall of Fame game.
1:36And let's get back with Judy Batista and Ian Rappaport.
1:39Judy, let's start with you and some of the training camp storylines you're most interested in.
1:44I'm actually interested in three teams. One of them was on that list of the teams that are opening soon.
1:50Bills, Steelers, Ravens, all highly successful teams that have moved on from longtime head coaches who'd had a ton of success at those places.
1:58Two of them, of course, won Super Bowls for those teams.
2:01Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh, all three moving on.
2:04Two of the teams going with rookie head coaches.
2:07I am fascinated to see, first of all, how they put their fingerprints on these teams, all of whom are built to win right now.
2:14We're showing you the Pittsburgh Steelers. Obviously, with a 40-something quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, they are trying to win right now.
2:21But the other two teams, of course, have league MVP level quarterbacks.
2:25They are built to win right now. These moves were made, you know, to get a new voice in, maybe to get
2:32some energy and to get them over the hump.
2:34They haven't been able to get back to the Super Bowl in Pittsburgh and in Baltimore.
2:39And, of course, in Buffalo, they haven't gotten to the Super Bowl in the Sean McDonough era.
2:45So it's going to be interesting to see how they put their fingerprints on these franchises.
2:50It's a big roll of the dice by ownership to break up with longtime head coaches who were consistently getting you to the playoffs.
2:57But we've seen it before. New coaches bring new energy and new messages.
3:01Is that going to be enough to get these three teams over the top?
3:06Yeah, so many fascinating storylines as we get into training camp.
3:09And I want to focus here, Judy, on the quarterbacks.
3:12No surprise. And I'll start with the team that is having their players report first.
3:17That is the Arizona Cardinals. On the 22nd, veterans and rookies both reported.
3:21As of right now, the Arizona Cardinals do not have their starting quarterback under a contract that he would want to play under.
3:28Jacoby Brissett has been over the course of the last several months of rolling in contract negotiations with the team, trying to
3:35get a little more money considering he is going into the season as the starter.
3:40Certainly some drama there because if he is not there to take the first team reps, is Carson Beck someone who could possibly challenge him?
3:48And how much do those reps help? Meanwhile, for the Minnesota Vikings, no doubt one of the biggest storylines of all of training camp.
3:55Is it a quarterback battle as well? Is it Kyle Murray?
3:59Is it JJ McCarthy? That is going to be going on throughout camp, through the preseason games, right up to the start of the season.
4:06Obviously, it has wide-ranging ramifications for the organization. But who ends up being their starter will go a long way in determining
4:13just how these Minnesota Vikings end up doing. Yeah, Ian, that's going to be one of the top storylines all through training
4:20camp all until we see the games being played in week one.
4:24I want to bring things back closer to Los Angeles because they are two high-level young pass rushers who are up for contract extensions.
4:31And let's start with the Chargers. That's Edge Tuli Tuiapalotu, who is just coming off a 13-and-a-half sack season.
4:37Yes, he's playing alongside Khalil Mack, but he is eligible for a contract extension.
4:42There have been conversations, but as we're getting closer to the opening of training camp, nothing has been finalized.
4:48Tuiapalotu, only 23 years old. Seems like he's of the age and of the ascension to be a defensive pillar the Chargers would like to build around.
4:56Now let's go over to the Rams. Yes, the off-season conversation deservedly has been around their acquisition of Myles Garrett.
5:02But Byron Young, another third-year player, is coming off of a 12-sack season.
5:06He is somebody in three years who has 27-and-a-half sacks.
5:09And with Garrett on the other side, those numbers could continue to go up because of the attention that's paid to Garrett.
5:16One thing that could really hamper Young and a big deal is he's 28 years old.
5:21That's kind of old for a third-year player. But that is going to be something to watch going into camp and through
5:28camp because these are two ascending players. Judy and Ian, we will be back with you a little bit later.
5:34And let's go to Detroit where their rookies report to training camp Saturday and the veterans report on July 28th.
5:41And their quarterback, Jared Goff, has something to say about how things could go as camp gets going.
5:46Let's be great. Let's go, buddy. Let's be great.
5:49Let's go. Let's go to work today, fellas. Back on track.
5:53Let's go. What 88 was hit. Dig the **** in.
5:56No one's coming to **** save us. Make some **** plays.
5:59Let's go. This is the one here. Goff turns.
6:02Gibbs to Gibbs. Go, Gibbs. Go, Gibbs. What do you got, Gibbs?
6:06Go, score. Go, score. Go, score, Gillian. Go, score.
6:09Give it. Score, Gillian. That is one of my favorite wins of all time.
6:13All right, Jared. Here with joining me, it's Stacy Dales.
6:16And, Jared, I just want to get kind of right to it.
6:20How did not making the postseason last year impact the approach heading into training camp?
6:25Yeah, I think it made us really hungry. It really did.
6:28And even though we had a winning record and we were 9-8, it wasn't good enough.
6:33We came in fourth place in our division. And it's really, you know, we came up short in a lot of ways.
6:40And finding a way to win our division first.
6:43Again, get back on top of our division. We had won it two years prior.
6:47And finding a way to win that division and then see what happens when you get into the playoffs.
6:53But, yeah, we're hungry, man. We really are. And certainly excited to get after it.
6:58And, Jared, the relationship between the play caller and the quarterback, as you know, firsthand is so essential.
7:04What is that relationship like with Drew Pretzing, your new offensive coordinator, and how you share ideas and create concepts within this offense?
7:11Yeah, he's been awesome. He really has been great to work with.
7:15And I really want to try to be, you know, an extension of him on the field.
7:20And then hopefully he's an extension of me when coming up with plays throughout the week and having ideas.
7:26So it's trying to be on the same page at all times and constant communication.
7:30That's what I try to do with him is just talk with him as much as possible.
7:36And I know he's doing the same with me.
7:39But making sure we're on the same page and understanding each other to the fullest extent.
7:44And there will be growing pains. There always is.
7:46But up to this point, man, it's been really, really good.
7:50And I've had a lot of fun working with him.
7:53You have so many weapons on this offense. We know the dual threat powerhouse that Jameer Gibbs is.
7:59But Amon Ross St. Brown, three straight all pro seasons.
8:02What is it like, Jared, working with him as your go-to guy and understanding he's just always there for you and the daily experience of training with him?
8:10Yeah, he's the best. He really is. And, you know, I think he's the best wide receiver in the league.
8:17I think he's the only guy who catches with it, runs with it, blocks, does everything.
8:22He can do it all. And it's a lot of fun to work with him and to play with him.
8:28And the way he works in practice, he makes me want to get him the ball.
8:33He makes me want to reward him for all his hard work.
8:37And, you know, it makes everyone around him work harder.
8:40And he's just such a great teammate, great player, great person.
8:43And I love playing with him. And, Jared, like you said, the numbers back up the fact that he's one of, if
8:50not the best wide receivers in the NFL. Why don't you think he gets more acclaim when people talk about the best wide receivers?
8:58I don't know, man. That's your guys' job. Okay.
9:01Yeah, it's on our lap. Well done, Jared. Hey, I'm doing my part.
9:05Yeah, exactly. We do what we can do. Hey, but, Jared, also, you know, we see the pizza boxes behind you for Little Seizures.
9:12What can you tell us about that? Yeah, I'm honored I was chosen to kind of represent Detroit in that way and
9:19to be with the Little Seizures now. I've been seeing them across Detroit for so long and being able to partner with
9:26them today and do this campaign will be a lot of fun.
9:30And I'm excited about it. All right, man. Well, good luck.
9:33We'll talk to you soon, Jared. Congratulations. Thank you.
9:36I'll get you some pizza soon. Okay. Excellent. I'm down.
9:39All right. I think Jared Pye puts pineapple on his pizza, too.
9:43Another storyline to watch heading into the 2026 NFL season is whether the World Cup reignites the debate over playing surfaces.
9:49Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium yesterday once again put the spotlight on natural grass.
9:56For the tournament, FIFA required MetLife and several other NFL stadiums with artificial turf to install temporary natural grass fields, reinforcing its
10:03longstanding mandate that World Cup matches be played on grass.
10:06Some NFL players have voiced their opinions on social media.
10:10Here's George Kittle. Grass still looks great. Let's use grass instead of turf.
10:14Jonathan Taylor, natural grass is an out of reach.
10:16Prioritizing players shouldn't be either. We are worth the cost.
10:20Here's NFL field director Nick Pappas back in April with Judy Batista at the league meeting addressing this matter specifically.
10:26We've got the World Cup coming to the United States this summer.
10:30They're obviously using a bunch of NFL stadiums. So there are grass fields in those stadiums.
10:35And of course, everybody wants to know why can't we just keep those grass fields, Nick?
10:40Yeah, if ever it was so simple, right? I think, you know, the biggest thing you got to remember about the World
10:46Cup tournament is that it's got exclusivity in these buildings, right?
10:50And I think that's one of the big pieces.
10:53The only thing that's going to see those playing surfaces is going to be World Cup matches.
10:58And that's not a normal usage of our venues.
11:01The other thing you got to consider is the duration of time.
11:05It's only going to be what June and July, and then we'll see those those fields exit our stadium.
11:11So it's a short term option. It may work well for the World Cup.
11:15It may work well for their athletes who are very different than our athletes.
11:19It's the demands of the game are also very different.
11:22And I think just making sure that that is even a viable option for an NFL venue is something that still needs to be determined.
11:30Yeah, it doesn't look like anything's going to be changing soon.
11:34But look at some of the MetLife Stadium notable injuries on the artificial surface.
11:38You're seeing Aaron Rodgers, Malik Nabors ACL, Nick Bosa ACL, Jimmy Garoppolo ankle.
11:42Sterling Shepard had two injuries on that MetLife Stadium field.
11:45So let's bring back Judy Battista and Ian Rapoport for this.
11:49Sorry about that, Ian. But Judy, this clearly has reignited the conversation.
11:52But will it reignite any changes? I don't think so.
11:56You heard Nick Pappas explain like NFL stadiums are not like what FIFA was demanding.
12:00FIFA demanded nothing else go on in those stadiums for weeks ahead of time.
12:05The grass was laid down like 10 weeks before the World Cup even began.
12:09And then, of course, the World Cup has been going on for five or six weeks with nothing else happening at that stadium.
12:16Well, like MetLife Stadium, for example, has stuff going on constantly, not just Giants and Jets games, big concerts, tractor poles, all kinds of events.
12:24So it's hard to imagine that that grass field would hold up very well under all of those conditions.
12:30And that's the case in most NFL stadiums. Now, there are NFL stadiums that have grass, some better than others, right?
12:37There have been complaints about the grass in Pittsburgh and Chicago.
12:40Not surprisingly, their climates are tough like New York is.
12:43But in Florida, for example, the Miami Dolphins own their own sod farm and they replace the natural grass regularly because that
12:50stadium, Hard Rock, does host a whole variety of events.
12:53So you could go that route. Certainly there is an economic consideration here for a lot of teams.
12:59The question is, are you better off with bad grass than a good artificial turf?
13:03The other thing to keep in mind is this conversation is going to continue to go on.
13:09There are eventually going to be CBA negotiations between the Players Association and the league.
13:13And the Players Association could certainly make a decision to press this issue during those negotiations.
13:18And then you see if those two sides can come to a deal.
13:22And that's really going to be fascinating, Judy, because it's one thing to have a grassroots social media push, which seems to
13:29be going on now from the NFLPA. Now that their leader, J.C.
13:33Tretter, is in charge and really kind of the first grassroots movements we've seen under the new leadership.
13:39It's another thing to say during CBA negotiations that we're going to put our foot down on grass versus turf when really
13:46there are other issues, monetary issues that generally kind of come to the forefront and generate much more of the spotlight.
13:52This issue is not going away. The turf is getting much better.
13:56I think that's one of the things that the NFL has talked about.
14:00Part of the problem here, Judy, you know this as well as anyone.
14:04The NFL has presented the evidence that turf is really not worse than grass on any sort of noticeable level.
14:10For whatever reason, people and especially players don't seem to believe it.
14:14Getting everyone to understand the real actual evidence will certainly help in this matter.
14:18Yeah, you know, there's that evidence right there. But again, what the players are saying, the grass actually feels better on their bodies.
14:26That's something that should be held into account. And we do know a lot of teams have added grass practice facilities, even
14:33if they play their games on turf. All right, Judy and Ian, thank you so much.
14:38Alvin Kamara down with the Saints back for another season.
14:41Another former Saints legend running back is going to be here to talk a little bit more about Kamara and his impact in New Orleans.
14:48And oh yeah, Cam Wolf over the weekend, you had us flipping out.
14:53Oops! I think hopefully we stick the landing a little bit better than that.
14:57We come back here on the Insiders for a little bit more discussion.
15:01Welcome back to the Insiders. Well, over the weekend, Giants running back Kam Scadaboo gave the fans a bit of a scare
15:08when he attempted a backflip and fell at Fanatics Fest.
15:11Didn't quite stick the landing, but no need to worry here.
15:14Scadaboo made sure to let everyone know afterwards that he's just fine.
15:18When I took off, I was midair like, holy cow, I'm not going to land this.
15:23I'm way too high. Landed, but it had too much cushion.
15:27It wasn't a stiff, firm ground. So that's why I kind of like went back, safely landed, got back up and was good to go.
15:34So nothing came out from that. I'm perfectly fine.
15:37Nothing happened. We're good. Okay, Ian and Judy. Of course, he had to reassure he was reassured.
15:43He was good because he's coming off of a broken tibia and an ankle injury that cost him a big part of his rookie season last year.
15:51Judy, I saw your reaction on social media. Um, how do you think the Giants themselves felt about Scadaboo saying being not quite risk averse?
15:59I think the Giants probably realized this is part of the Cam Scadaboo package.
16:03Um, if you remember, he actually stuck the landing on a backflip during a charity softball event with his teammates a few months ago.
16:11And John Harbaugh joked during minicamp, like he told him, hey, maybe not do the backflip so much anymore.
16:17So maybe that message needs to be delivered. Um, he's got a big part of this team.
16:22Listen, Cam Scadaboo is a big part of this team.
16:25He's going to be a big part of this offense, assuming that he is fully healthy coming out of training camp.
16:32Um, they want to run the ball. They want to be bullies.
16:35They want to dominate the line of scrimmage. They've got a pretty good running back room.
16:40It's him, Tyron Tracy, uh, single Terry's still there.
16:43They got a bunch of good running backs. They need him to be healthy.
16:48They need him to be, to bring the electricity that he brings.
16:51I thought his relationship with Jackson Dart really powered, uh, the movement last year where you saw sparks for the future.
16:58Uh, Jackson Dart, by the way, is a really good friend and teammate.
17:02He said, wow, that was really great burst that he saw a good explosion.
17:06So, uh, this is part of what you get with Cam Scadaboo.
17:10You just have to hope he can stay in one piece and he can bring that energy and intensity to the field.
17:17Yeah, this is really the nightmare scenario in so, so, so many ways.
17:21Judy, I was spending time with the general manager earlier this summer.
17:25He got a call from someone very high up in his organization.
17:29And the first thought that this person had seeing the phone call was like, oh my God, because really there's no reason
17:35to call a general manager during the summer ever.
17:38If there's something like cool happening, just text because any phone call, you know, it's bad, right?
17:44And so if, uh, Joe Shane is getting a call about Cam Scadaboo hurting himself doing a back flip at some fanatics event, that is all bad.
17:52The other part of this is so much of what teams want to do during the summer is literally just get to training camp.
17:59Don't want anything stupid happen. Keep everyone clear out of trouble.
18:03No issues. Keep everyone healthy. Just get them through training camp.
18:06And, and in a unforced era, almost Cam Wolf nearly made that a complete disaster.
18:11Everyone just stay on your feet. We got like a week to go that you could just go back to football and do whatever you want.
18:19Guys, look, we know guys who suffered big injuries while they're jet skiing, while they're out playing basketball, things like that, that
18:26have enabled them not to get to training camp.
18:29Had he stuck the landing, I think we would have been okay, but he did cause a little bit of a stir.
18:36All right. A week or so to go until the Green Bay Packers report to training camp and they are doing some
18:43work as they have done really for much of this off season.
18:46They're making sure that some of their young stars get paid the latest defensive lineman Devante.
18:51Why gets a three year, $57 million contract extension, $20 million in a signing bonus and a deal done by wind sports.
18:58Devante white is coming off the best season of his career, overcoming a broken leg at the end.
19:04But still, I mean, really looked like the budding star that the Packers hoped he would be, which now means, Judy, there
19:11is one more star for the Green Bay Packers that still is doing contract extension.
19:15Tucker Kraft coming up a torn ACL. Certainly now the target for Green Bay.
19:20The hope is at some point before the season, he will be the latest Packer to cash in on a huge deal.
19:27Judy. Another team getting ready to report Cleveland Browns veterans are reporting July 28th.
19:31And one of the biggest storylines of the summer is their quarterback competition and now healthy Deshaun Watson versus the incumbent second year quarterback Shadur Sanders.
19:39Back in the spring, Watson seemed to take an early league.
19:43Then Shadur made up some ground. Coach Todd Munkin had originally wanted to name a starter coming out of the spring.
19:49He ended up not doing that. He wanted to see more work.
19:53So training camp starts with a true competition. Keep an eye on those joint practices and preseason games.
19:59Here's Shadur on the state of play in Cleveland.
20:01Yeah, I would say it's the same thing that we've been saying from day one.
20:06You know, we both trying to be the best version of ourselves we could be.
20:11So we're not going to let anything get in between of that.
20:14So it's a level of respect, you know, that we all in the quarterback room have for each other.
20:20And we're not really emotional when it comes to things that we can't control.
20:25We mainly focus on and thrive on getting better in the work every day.
20:29So if I like something you're doing, I ask.
20:32If you like something I do, then I ask.
20:35Like it's conversation and that's what's most effective. All right, let's bring in Mark Ross and Stacy Dales for more on the
20:42quarterback battles to watch heading into camp. And Mark, let's start right there in Cleveland.
20:46What about that competition? Well, look, as a personnel department, you always want the best player to win the job to give you the best chance to win.
20:55But you also have to take in effect what you have invested in these players.
21:00And for the Browns, they have invested a fifth round pick in Shador Sanders.
21:04And they have invested, Stacy, $233 million and counting for Deshaun Watson.
21:08So if all things are equal throughout training camp, if it is a true open competition or if they haven't already know
21:15that Deshaun's going to be the guy, then I would think they have to lean to Deshaun Watson to be the guy
21:22just because of how much they have invested. Shador, a lot younger, of course, has time.
21:27So at his best, of course, Deshaun Watson was a top five pick.
21:31We haven't seen that in a long, long time.
21:34Shador showed the flashes last year, Stacy needs more consistency.
21:37But if all else is equal, I got to figure they got to go with Deshaun as the guy.
21:43Yeah, and I think he's a hair ahead right now.
21:46If you talk to people there in Cleveland, listen, Todd Munkin was brought in to fix the process.
21:51He was a former quarterback and he was brought in to fix not only this offense, but this quarterback issue.
21:58It's a carousel. It's been one there in Cleveland since 2020, 13 different starting quarterbacks.
22:02And so here he comes to fix the 30th ranked total offense in terms of yards, 31st in scoring.
22:08They were worst in yards per play. And Shador Sanders has had a very good off season.
22:14Remember back to back Achilles injuries. Those ruptures hasn't played essentially game football since January of 25.
22:19But he's been really sound through the course of OTAs.
22:22He's driving the ball as Todd Munkin has talked about.
22:25And he's shown signs of that mobility that we became so accustomed to.
22:29Perhaps this could be a potential comeback player of the year.
22:33Should he be the guy? And again, by all reports out of Cleveland, he seems to be a hair ahead of Shador
22:40who also has shown signs of improvement. He was their best passer last season, Steve.
22:44And he has shown better decision making at the line of scrimmage.
22:48But nonetheless, it'll be a quarterback competition. They are splitting reps starting in training camp.
22:53But whoever wins the job, let's not forget the Browns heavily invested in their offensive line in free agency and in the draft.
23:00And they got him two young wide receivers in the draft.
23:03So whoever comes in is going to come in with an offensive staff to help support them.
23:09All right, Mark, back to you. Minnesota, another storyline with that quarterback battle.
23:13Give us some insight. Yeah, well, this is two guys in two different directions.
23:17Kyler Murray trying to resurrect his career. You know, people forget how well he played offensive rookie of the year.
23:23Couple couple pro bowls and J.J. McCarthy just trying to prove he can be the guy.
23:28And of course, again, when I talked about the investment in these players, if you trade up to draft a quarterback with
23:35a 10th pick in the draft as the Vikings did for J.J.
23:39McCarthy, you want him to be your guy. Not just for this year, but for the long term.
23:45Of course, only paying Kyler Murray 1.3 million just because of the past contract.
23:49But they would want J.J. to perform and look well.
23:52But I think Kyler Murray definitely gives them the best chance, especially how nasty that defense is.
23:57Kyler would steal some playmaking, just has to get a little bit more comfortable and consistent in what he does, Stacey.
24:04Yeah, and it's an unusual situation for Kyler Murray.
24:07He's always been the starter in his career, and now he's having to share 50-50 reps with J.J.
24:12McCarthy. And what does that mean? Well, you're getting less reps, so fewer room for error, less room for error.
24:19What I'm looking for in training camp, a couple things.
24:22Shockingly, the Minnesota Vikings finished dead last with 30 giveaways offensively last season.
24:26They went through a carousel of quarterbacks. Speaking of carousel, J.J.
24:29McCarthy, Carson Wentz, Max Brosmer. And so you're looking at stability from the position, but who values the football through training camp, which is hard to do?
24:38Because if you're Kyler Murray, you're learning a new offense.
24:41There will be mistakes. But ultimately, I have one player circled.
24:44That is Justin Jefferson. Mark, you mentioned him. Career lows.
24:47He's still at over 1,000 receiving yards, but 12 and a half yards per catch?
24:52Two touchdowns receiving the football? He was frustrated. It was frustrating to watch.
24:56Which guy has the most chemistry, starting with Justin Jefferson?
24:59Those are things KOC is going to be looking at.
25:02Yeah, bingo, Stacy. You nailed it right there. And look, I don't think they brought Kyler Murray in there to be a backup.
25:10If they had that much faith in J.J. McCarthy, they wouldn't have gone with a veteran like that, as you said, someone
25:16who is used to being the guy. Now, one of the most intriguing quarterback battles down in Atlanta, Mark Ross, two lefties battling for the job.
25:25And the same type of scenario, though, as you just explained in Minnesota.
25:29Yeah, for sure. As I talked about in Minnesota, the Atlanta Falcons took Michael Pennick with the eighth pick.
25:35And Tua, they basically have the bargain rate for him.
25:38And poor Kevin Stefanski. You know, you talked about Stacy, talked about Cleveland, the quarterback carousel.
25:43Kevin Stefanski was a part of that. Now he comes down at Atlanta and still doesn't have that quarterback stability.
25:49And to me, this is going to come down to who can stay out of the training room.
25:55You know, Pennick's is coming off the injury, off injured in college, banged up here.
25:59And then now Tua, of course, we know his long injury history as well.
26:04So who can stay on the field is going to win the job.
26:08Of course, Pennick's showed a lot of promise in his short time there, short stint, especially that connection with Drake London and the rejuvenated Kyle Pitts.
26:16You know, Tua at his best, the timing throws, the throws in the middle, getting the ball out quick, quick decisions.
26:22And you just didn't see that last year where he looked almost like a shot fighter.
26:27And he just didn't have that same sort of quick mind and quick release that he showed in the past.
26:34So we'll see if he can regain the early career Tua at his best.
26:38Yes. But Pennick's to me definitely gives him the best chance.
26:42And of course, the people there, the front office will want him to be to win the job because of we've spent
26:48the eighth pick of the draft on this guy, Stacey.
26:52Yeah. And unfortunately, still coming back from that ACL that left ACL, the third mark of his career, he is roughly by
26:58training camp nine months into the rehabilitation process cleared to throw the football in March, but kind of liking it to Patrick Mahomes, right?
27:06Got to ease him back into this thing, which you would assume, regardless of our opinions, that Tua is out there throwing the football.
27:13And in this sort of quick game screens play action with Kevin Stefanski move the chains.
27:18He's got a quick trigger. Now, I just want to give a shout out to our research guy, Laquan Jones.
27:25Just, just a little nugget for our viewers. Last time we had two lefties on a team in the National Football League per Laquan.
27:321997 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mark Brunel was the starter.
27:35Steve Matthews was the third stringer. So cool storyline there.
27:38Whatever man takes this job, ultimately this season, the backup will be essential.
27:42Mark, you talked about and alluded to the injury history.
27:46This is a very important quarterback situation in Atlanta because of that injury history.
27:50And the backup will matter regardless of who the starter is.
27:53That's right, guys. I mean, it might not matter who starts.
27:57Might matters who finishes. All right. Now let's take it to Las Vegas.
28:01Mark. We know Clint Kubiak, new head coach of the Raiders.
28:04So he prefers not to start a rookie that he needs to learn behind a veteran.
28:09You've got Kirk Cousins, but you also got the top pick in Fernando Mendoza.
28:14Change his mind for me. Why should Fernando be the guy?
28:17Yeah, he has to be the guy. Clint Kubiak took that job for Fernando Mendoza, not for Kirk Cousins.
28:23And Fernando Mendoza with so much success and so much play time that he had in college.
28:28I think he's ready. He's matured to do it.
28:31And when you really look, the old school thinking was let the guys sit.
28:36But the last few years, just look at last year, even though Cam Ward and Jackson Dart and Tyler Shuck struggled some that you showed the promise.
28:44And now going into year two, you feel so much better about them having and then going two years ago with Caleb
28:51Williams and Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix and Drake May who struggled year one.
28:55But then year two went to the Super Bowl because he put together and took those lumps and now they're ready to go.
29:03Yeah. And Fernando will eventually be the guy Mark and Steve.
29:06But for now, Clint Kubiak, let's be clear. He's told us Kirk Cousins is the guy and maybe until his performance and play deems otherwise.
29:14But hey, Kubiak was with him in Minnesota a few years ago, helped coach him to a Pro Bowl Kirk Cousins.
29:20And I want to leave one thought overarching all of this.
29:24Tom Brady is looking at this whole darn thing.
29:27And guess who he had to sit beside sit behind there in New England?
29:31A guy named Drew Bledsoe. So he's telling Fernando Mendoza, you better be careful.
29:35You better retain. You better learn how to not make the same mistake twice.
29:40And you've got a leader in Kirk Cousins that you should be learning from.
29:44And Kubiak has stated Steve and Mark, we're counting on Kirk Cousins to teach him, show him how, how it's done, show him the ropes.
29:52But you still have Tom Brady over there helping this young man too.
29:56He is surrounded by brilliance in the game and will eventually be brilliant, you'd think, because of that.
30:02Speaking of brilliance, Stacey and Mark, you brought it to this segment.
30:05We won't be done talking about this again. This could be a theme all through training camp.
30:11And we come back, we're going to talk about another quarterback, Tyler Shupp, down in New Orleans as former Saints running back
30:18and their current radio color analyst, Deuce McAllister, joins the show next.
30:21Well, we've got a lot of excitement around the New Orleans Saints heading into training camp in part because as our Ian
30:28Rappaport reported, Alvin Kamara, the veteran running back whose status was a little up in the air, has reworked his contract to
30:35be back in the Saints backfield in 2026. He'll be joined by newcomer Travis Etienne.
30:40So for more on that backfield and more Saints talk, let's bring in former Saints running back, Deuce McAllister, who also does radio for the Saints.
30:48Deuce, always good seeing you. And let's start right there about the potential of this backfield.
30:53Alvin Kamara, we know the versatility he brings, but now they pair him with Travis Etienne.
30:58What can those two do in tandem? Well, you're really pleased that Alvin was able to get the deal done and, you know, with the organization.
31:06Anytime that you have a player and a team trying to work through a contract, that's always a sore spot, but you're
31:13happy to have that kind of out of the way.
31:16And now you look, you want to get back to football.
31:19And so Alvin will tell you that, hey, look, he still has something left in the tank and being able to partner
31:26with HN, you know, hopefully that gives them that one, two duo that this offense has really missed the last couple of years.
31:33I mean, when you go and look, you haven't had a ton of explosive.
31:38Maybe something that Travis can add to that mix and take some of that pressure off from just having to be the lead guy.
31:45I think that definitely helps him as well. Well, again, I mentioned a lot of excitement around the Saints.
31:51I think part of it's with this offense because of quarterback Tyler Schutt.
31:55Now, Deuce, you were there. You saw him the last two thirds of the season last year.
32:01He added a complete new element to this offense, completed a high number of his passes, especially in that intermediate range.
32:07What are the expectations for Schutt going into the season?
32:10Well, I think when you talk about Tyler, you just want to see some growth.
32:15I think that's probably the most important part when you talk about not only from a leadership standpoint, but you have to
32:22be able to do it on the field and you can talk about the last half of that season, how they were
32:29able to put some wins together, him go out there and get some experience.
32:33But now I see some growth from that stage and from that standpoint.
32:37Dave, the Saints have done a really good job.
32:40You've added to the offensive line with Edwards. You were able to get some speed on the outside.
32:46And I think that was probably the most critical thing for this offense.
32:50You know, one being able to run the football, take some pressure off of that young quarterback, but then be able to
32:57add to that only tight end room, offensive line, but on the outside as far as receiver, being able to have some explosive plays.
33:04That's what this offense needs. It's always hard to grind out a 10 to 12 play drive in the NFL.
33:10If you can have a couple of guys that can take the top off of that defense, that definitely helps you.
33:17Yeah. Drafted Jordan Tyson in the first round, the wide receiver to go with Chris Alave.
33:22You got two guys who can really go. So let's also go revisit a little bit of retaining a veteran.
33:28Cam Jordan decided to sign the one year deal to come back.
33:32How important is that coming off a 10 and a half sack season to get him back in the mix of a
33:39defense that was much better than people give it credit for?
33:42Yeah, they were much better. And I think, you know, for Cam, it was an opportunity to kind of finish some things that he had started.
33:50You know, he had some opportunities to go to some other places, but for him, just being able to talk to him
33:57now, you know, not only wanting to finish, finish his career in New Orleans, but I think the aspect of the wife
34:04and kids, you know, just missing some of that home feeling for them and just being able to say, okay, you know, I have a good situation here.
34:13I know, and I understand the defense. I know, and I understand, you know, kind of my playing situation.
34:19It was something that he felt good about. And so to be able to get him, not only from a leadership standpoint,
34:26but just to be able to say, Hey, look, can you produce those type of numbers that you did the year before?
34:33And so if he can come close to that, I think it's a win-win situation for both groups.
34:38I mean, because you're going to have some leadership.
34:41Um, so avoid there and not having Demario Davis who was able to go to New York with the Jets.
34:47And so I know that you signed some other guys to be able to fill that void as far as okay.
34:54Nellis is a guy that, you know, really well over from Atlanta.
34:58He comes back to New Orleans. He tries to play that role of Demario, but having Cam there and just being able
35:05to go out there and produce, you know, I think that'll, that'll help that Saints defense, you know, to be able to
35:11play it at an elite level, you know, kind of like they did most of the year last year.
35:17Yeah. Especially with Chase Young on that other edge, really coming into his own last season, the big things expected out of him.
35:25I want to, I want to take you to a little bit of your career as it comes back on the 20
35:31year milestone this year, week four of Monday night football, the NFL season 20th anniversary of that first game back in the
35:38Superdome after hurricane Katrina, a game you played in the game.
35:42The Saints won. We know how big of a game that was.
35:45What was it like to us when you look back 20 years ago, not only the impact and magnitude of that game
35:52itself, but what it has meant for Saints football in that city.
35:56Just thinking about it, you know, it's hard to fathom that it's been 20 years, you know, when you think about hurricane
36:03Katrina and being, being able to continue to play into Orleans, you know, that was even in doubt itself.
36:09And you see the block there by Steve Gleason.
36:12And just to be able to have that moment, not only as a, as a return as a player, but you know,
36:19a team, a city just to be able to bring some hope.
36:22You know, I think that was probably the most important thing for us, just because you were vagabonds the year before the
36:29unknown, whether you would return to New Orleans, whether the city of New Orleans would be viable, you know, long-term.
36:35And you've seen some of the growth you've seen, you know, not only the organization be able to step up and be
36:42a better team than it kind of was, you know, or at least was thought of prior to that time.
36:49And so, you know, there's a lot of work that still has to be done for an organization to be able to get back to the elite status.
36:57I think it starts with the quarterback. I think that you may have that in place now, you know, you crown him so soon.
37:05But when you think about that game, that moment, it meant a lot, not only to the organization, but to the city,
37:12to the region, and just brought a lot of hope.
37:15And, you know, the team was able to kind of reward the city and the state with the Super Bowl in 2009,
37:22you know, a couple of years after Katrina. Talk about meaning a lot to the city and the organization, your quarterback, Drew
37:29Brees, going to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio in a couple of weeks.
37:34What can you tell us about Drew, just some of the memories and how deserving he is of this honor?
37:40Well, it's definitely deserving. And, you know, just a small part that I was able to play in that picture.
37:46You're definitely, you're thankful for it. And so, you know, for Drew and his kids, his wife, Brittany, all the things that
37:53they meant to this city of New Orleans, the things that they still mean to this city and to this organization, you
38:00know, you're proud, you're happy for him, you know, because we saw the work.
38:05You know, a lot of people, you hear the stories, you know about some of the things from a preparation standpoint, you
38:11know, you see Drew and you think, man, he's not that big.
38:15You know, he doesn't fit the typical six, four, you know, two, 10 to 20 type of quarterback.
38:21But maybe from a physical standpoint, he didn't beat you.
38:24He beat you up top. And so he still had a strong enough arm.
38:28He was still a good enough athlete where he could move in the pocket, manipulate it, be able to see things kind
38:35of before they happen and just his preparation. And so, you know, he's definitely deserving of the Hall of Fame.
38:41And, you know, like I said, just for myself and some of the other guys that were able to play a small
38:48part in, you know, that time that he had here in New Orleans, man, we're so proud of him.
38:54And, you know, we can't wait to celebrate with it.
38:57All right, dude, don't sell yourself short, man. You played a little bit more than a small part.
39:03You were a baller. People go back and Google them for 26.
39:07Deuce McAllister doing his thing. Hey, brother, appreciate you taking some time.
39:11All the best. No problem. Thank you so much.
39:13Welcome back to the insiders. Here is the full list of first time head coaches to win the Super Bowl.
39:20That's right. There are two of them. Don McCafferty with the 1970 Baltimore Colts.
39:24And of course, George Seifert with the 89 San Francisco 49ers.
39:27There's a chance we could have a coach to do that this year.
39:31We're going to talk about that now with Ian Rappaport, Mark Ross and Stacey Dales all returning with me, Judy Batista.
39:38All right, Stacey, I want to start with you because Joe Brady takes the helm with the Buffalo Bills.
39:44They have been a Super Bowl contender for the last few years.
39:48Can he get them over the top? Why can't he write the relationship that he has built with his quarterback since 2022
39:55when he was the quarterback's coach morphed into the O.C.
39:58and called the plays there to the tune of the fourth best offense last year in football?
40:03They were number one against the rush. Josh Allen, a huge part of that.
40:0739 total touchdowns for the quarterback. 25 through the air, 14 on the ground.
40:12And then, of course, James Cook led the league with over 1600 rushing yards.
40:16He was sensational. Again, number one rushing attack in football.
40:19So Brandon Bean, this organization brought back Joe Brady through the interview process because they wanted to keep that continuity.
40:26Yes, they have a new defensive coordinator in Jim Leonard by way of the Denver Broncos, but maintaining that continuity, that foundation
40:32of trust between the play caller and the quarterback.
40:35And the quarterback is an MVP level quarterback. Why not with the energy?
40:39One of my favorite pregame conversations in the league is with Joe Brady when I have one of their games.
40:46He's innovative. The players love him. And we'll see what happens on the defensive side of the ball.
40:51As you guys know, it's going to come down to clock management, fourth down for Brady, team situations, situational football.
40:57Those will be the areas. We'll see how he impacts as the head coach.
41:02Yeah, Joe Brady can get this team a couple plays better, one or two plays better.
41:07No doubt he can become a rare, rare first year head coach to go deep into the playoffs.
41:12And we will see, obviously, plenty talented enough. All right, Mark.
41:16What about Jesse Minter with the Baltimore Ravens? Take me through that one.
41:20Well, so eerily similar. I mean, these situations are almost the same with Jesse Minter there and Joe Brady, where you've got the franchise quarterback.
41:28You've been on the doorstep of being the best team in the league, making it to the Super Bowl.
41:34Joe Brady's the offensive side of the ball, but Jesse Minter is on the defensive side, and he has to entrust a
41:41new young offensive coordinator there in Declan Doyle to take Lamar Jackson's game to another level.
41:46And for Jesse Minter, we saw the Baltimore defense struggle last season.
41:49You know, his charge is to get those guys right with Trey Hengerson and Calais Campbell, Jalen Hawkins coming in there.
41:56Zion Young, the rookie there in the second round.
41:59So, so similar. I can't imagine in history there's been two coaches that got put into better situations at the same time than these two guys, Judy.
42:07You know, the AFC felt so wide open last year.
42:10No Burrow, no Lamar, no Mahomes in the playoffs.
42:13Josh Allen out early. That set of circumstances is probably not going to repeat itself.
42:18Let's hope it doesn't repeat itself. It's going to be really interesting to see if Joe Brady and Jesse Minter can break through that very crowded field.
42:26Guys, thank you very much. It's going to be a Hootay party in Cincinnati on New Year's Eve against the Ravens as
42:33the Bengals are having a white stripe out, so to speak, as they're asking fans in certain sections to wear white tops.
42:40Others wear black tops so it can resemble the Bengal tiger stripes.
42:44It's going to be a really cool event. Hey, how'd they get my workout video from this morning?
42:49I mean, oh, wait, wait, that's Tristan Wirfs of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
42:53Just ripping up about, oh, I'm guessing about 400.
42:56That is an awful lot. And teams reporting to camp tomorrow.
43:00You see them right there. The Patriots, the Dolphins, the Panthers, the Bills, the Texans.
43:04All their rookies will be showing up. You know who else will be showing up tomorrow?
43:09Right here. We will be showing up on the Insiders.
43:12I am Steve White. And also signing off for Judy Batista, Ian Rappaport, Stacy Dales and Mark Ross for the Insiders.
43:19Thanks a ton. Have a good night. We'll see you on Tuesday.
43:23This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human.
