PodcastFrom NFL: The Insiders
The Insiders Podcast: Patrick Mahomes on HIs Knee Rehab and Bengals DE Boye Mafe Joins the Insiders
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45 min
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Jul 25, 2026
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Sat, July 25, 2026
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Episode Transcript
0:00This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed Human. Valvoline Instant Oil Change.
0:03Change wisely. Earlier this year, the Patriots and the Seahawks linked up for the Super Bowl.
0:08They are synced up for training camp ahead of their matchup in week one.
0:12We check in with both teams today. Boye Mafe played in that last matchup in the Super Bowl.
0:18Now that he's been in Cincinnati for a few months, he joins us as we check in with the Bengals big free agent addition this offseason.
0:26And the Chiefs arrive in training camp with some good news from the training staff regarding that man, the three time Super Bowl MVP.
0:33All those stories coming up on NFL: The Insiders.
0:36Hey everybody. Welcome to this edition of NFL: The Insiders.
0:39Patrick Claiborne here with Mike Garofalo as players are rolling in all over the league for training camp.
0:44One of them, a big part of our all season storylines, Mike.
0:48That's what's new today. Coming into our newsroom as Patrick Mahomes has been medically cleared, not just to walk in slow motion,
0:55but to practice in full at training camp. Less than eight years.
0:58Eight months after his LCL and ACL were surgically repaired the same week of his injury.
1:03And that optimism about his early availability continues. I'm optimistic, but I want to, and I know he is extremely optimistic, but
1:10I think you've got to see how things go here.
1:13Let's just see where we're at and not make any predictions or anything else.
1:17Take it day by day and see where it goes.
1:20It's a lot of hard work and just day to day, just continuing to do it over and over again.
1:26It was always the goal to be able to practice when we got to training camp.
1:31And so we've kind of hit that next step and now it's just going to be about building and keep getting better and better.
1:38And so that whenever the regular season comes around, I can, I can try to be available and ready to play.
1:45I feel stronger than I've ever felt as far as strength and lifting and stuff like that.
1:50And so now it's just about getting that quarterback stuff down.
1:53Stuff moving in the pocket quick, making those quick movements, react, reacting and doing stuff like that.
1:58And so I feel like I wouldn't play my best football at the end of last year before I got hurt.
2:05And so I got to find ways to get better, kind of navigating the pocket, run the offense better and getting the
2:12ball in my hands and letting other guys make plays.
2:15And so I think this injury helped me kind of focus on those little things as I kind of get back to being who I am.
2:22Andy Reid says they want to see where they're at, where they are right now is in St.
2:28Joseph, Missouri. That's where Jeff Judea joins us from.
2:31Good evening to you, Jeff. So they get the little bit of good news waiting on the best news for Patrick Mahomes and his availability.
2:38Yeah, definitely. This is what the Chiefs wanted to hear, what Patrick Mahomes wanted to hear.
2:43He got the clearance a couple of days ago from his doctor.
2:47And as he said in that little clip, this is where he wanted to be starting training camp.
2:52This has been a long road for him, seven hour days in rehab.
2:56He talked about just competing with Zach Ertz, the former tight end for the commanders during their rehab.
3:02Ertz had torn his ACL at the same time and they were trying to see who could outdo each other there.
3:08But really for Patrick Mahomes, this is about continuing the process.
3:11He talked a lot about today just continuing to build up, using these next three days with the rookies to be able
3:18to see where he's at, hopefully getting into team drills.
3:21He did not do that during the offseason. That will be another big step for him, maybe preseason games.
3:27But Mike, the best thing he said about today was he's been waiting all offseason to do this.
3:32He's excited to be at training camp again. Yeah, you know the motivation that Patrick Mahomes feels on this one.
3:38I mean, this will only be another enemy, another opponent that he's got to overcome and he'll use that to fuel himself.
3:45And he does a great job of taking care of his body just on a regular basis, pre-injury.
3:51And the way that he's able to recover week in and week out during the season, he's built that way.
3:57And he's done a great job of building that.
3:59And that stuff helps when it comes to rehabbing a serious injury like this.
4:04So I'm not surprised that he is on track for a goal that he said they've got to see how it goes here.
4:11Yeah, maybe he gets a little bit of preseason action just to get himself that feeling of being back on a live
4:17field before the start of the season. Andy Reid's been sort of resting, not resting.
4:22He kind of goes back and forth on that or he has throughout his career.
4:26But he's played these guys in recent years. So wouldn't be surprised if he's out there and plays.
4:32The other part of this is that Justin Fields, even with Mahomes out there and practicing, is going to get a lot
4:39of reps this summer and a lot of work in the preseason as well.
4:43And I know the Chiefs feel like there's a lot of untapped potential in there that they can tap into.
4:49So that'll be the other part of this is how much work Fields gets and how he can come along this summer.
4:56They were able to draft a lot of potential.
4:58They haven't been able to make high picks since they first started Patrick Mahomes.
5:03They've always been at the back end of the first round or even moving out of it.
5:08They get Mansoor Delaney and Peter Woods to add to this defensive group.
5:12What's the outlook defensively for these young guys, Jeff?
5:14Well, they're very excited about this group. A lot of big names in there.
5:19Mansoor Delaney, you mentioned, and Peter Woods and R.
5:21Mason Thomas being the biggest of those names. But Andy Reid did not have a rookie camp last year.
5:27And so having this, getting back to this, he talked about how he missed having that and the importance of this for
5:34these young guys coming in, being able to learn, being able to get a lot of stuff thrown at them, learn about the pace of training camp.
5:42You have to go back to 2022 when they brought in Trent McDuffie and Jalen Watson and George Karloftis to see a
5:49unit that had to rely on young players. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is not big on this.
5:54He doesn't have a lot of patience for mistakes, but they need these guys to play early.
5:59And this starts today as far as, or tomorrow as far as learning how to be a chief and playing at a high level defensively.
6:07Yeah, the third place Kansas City Chiefs looking to bounce back.
6:10Odd to say. Jeff Jadilla reporting there as the Chiefs march towards their start of the season.
6:15The New England Patriots doing the same. One off-season circumstance we've been tracking.
6:19The status for Christian Gonzalez and the team on their contract discussions.
6:23The Seahawks nearing an extension with their star corner Devon Witherspoon.
6:26Mike Vribel says that factor is not a fact.
6:29I don't think they have anything to do with one another.
6:32We're not negotiating with the Seahawks. We're negotiating with Christian's representatives.
6:36And I don't think that there's anything different than just our communication with them.
6:40He is here, and I would expect him to participate.
6:43And so, you know, those contract negotiations are ongoing between the club and his agents.
6:47And, you know, I'm excited about having Christian back here with us and the impact that he can make on our football
6:54team and really enjoy the person, enjoy the player.
6:57And that's what I'm looking forward to. Looking forward to seeing Steve Weiss joining us here on this edition of the Insiders.
7:04This is Mike. They expect him to participate. We still got to figure out how they get this contract situation settled.
7:10Mike Vribel was part of a regime in Foxborough that didn't even talk about contracts publicly, not nearly as much as he just did right there.
7:18And a lot of guys that took subpar deals.
7:21Now, I think he's got a different understanding of where this is right now for New England and for the NFL in general.
7:28And for Christian Gonzalez, who, along with Devin Witherspoon, is looking at the top of the cornerback market at $31 million per
7:34year from Trent McDuffie that just got over Sauce Gardner at $30 million.
7:38And now it's, okay, these two represented by the same firm, which is a big part of this as well, have the
7:45chance to really make a bigger leap over that and really push this market forward, maybe into the close to the mid-30s potentially.
7:52And nobody wants to take it first and then the other guy goes way above him.
7:57And we've seen that at other positions. Wide receiver was one of them in recent years.
8:02So that is part of it right there. But I did hear the part where he said, he's here and I expect him to participate.
8:09Because Vrabel, like the rest of the NFL, knows that just because a guy's there doesn't mean he's not going to stage a hold-in, Weish.
8:17But he's saying, none of this. Christian Gonzalez is going to be out there and participate while we figure out the numbers.
8:23Oh, Mike, as you know, though, every coach expects every hold-in to participate.
8:27What does participate actually mean? We've seen guys go to blocking sleds and stand there.
8:32You know, go to wherever and be part of the groups that are meeting.
8:36Take the instruction. Participate in the non-physical part of it when it comes to these types of hold-ins, if that's what this ends up being.
8:44I'm not saying they won't get a deal done.
8:47But, I mean, the fact that Christian Gonzalez is there, there's good faith, right?
8:51That goes to show that no matter where the part of the negotiations are, which to me means they're pretty close if
8:57he's in the building, that they do think that both sides are in good communication.
9:02And that's a big step. You know, when you come to these types of contract negotiations, even if it's a hold-in or
9:09not, the fact that the guy's in the building goes to show that there is some good communication going on.
9:15Yeah, historically good communication between Mike Vrabel and his players, so much so that he's got a former player who was with
9:21him for a few years in Houston and a year, I believe, in Tennessee, and DeAndre Hopkins just to come hang out, see what's going on.
9:29Yeah, how about that? Nuke Hopkins, one of the best wide receivers we've seen over the past, you know, 13, 14 years,
9:36is working as a kind of a coach for the Patriots.
9:39Mike Vrabel talked today about how Hopkins is trying to figure out if this is the next phase of his career.
9:46I mean, DeAndre Hopkins, a 14-season player, over 1,000 catches, 13,000 yards.
9:49But he played last year at the Ravens and had just 22 catches.
9:53So he's giving them a couple days, if not weeks, to see if this is a path he wants to choose.
10:00And one thing that we don't really talk about enough is a lot of players actually do this.
10:05You go to anyone's practice, you'll see guys fresh off the field on a coaching staff trying to figure it out.
10:12So we'll see if this is kind of a Tony Jefferson thing, who went to work for the Ravens scouting department and
10:18then got back into it as now a starter for the Chargers, or if this is something that DeAndre Hopkins really pursues,
10:25or maybe Mike, he comes in and tries to sit down next to us on a media desk.
10:30Well, that's right where I was going, because a lot of times you'll see a guy, and we've had him, Kyle Van
10:37Nooy was working with us last year here at NFL Network while still playing and even a little bit right now, where
10:44you say, let me try it out. Let me test it.
10:47Let me test the waters. Let me see if I like this thing, because even if I haven't made the decision to
10:54stop playing, let me see if when I'm done that this is what I want to do.
10:59This sort of feels the same way to me.
11:02I don't think DeAndre Hopkins has closed the door on playing in the NFL by any stretch and probably feels like he's
11:08got some good football left in him. But in the meantime, while I'm waiting, let me go work on my second career.
11:15Good for you, DeAndre, because he's made a ton of money in his career.
11:19He doesn't have to do anything. He can just say, I'm just going to cruise into retirement at some point when I'm done playing.
11:27No, I love the game that much, and we know his passion for the game, that he wants to explore this.
11:33I love it. I can't wait to see where it goes.
11:36Yeah, hopefully exploration leads to some opportunity. I know backup quarterbacks, former quarterbacks just show up, and they're on the staff already.
11:43At least DeAndre Hopkins are navigating that process there in New England.
11:47Veterans also reporting for the Patriots' Week 1 opponent, the defending Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks.
11:52There's been a little bit of turnover on that team that won the title.
11:56In fact, we will talk to one of those departures, and Boye Mafé coming up later on on this edition of the Insiders.
12:03But the Seahawks, they're at camp. And the big news we've been counting down to the Rams story this offseason is the arrival of these new uniforms.
12:11Two alternate uniforms revealed last night, one honoring the 1951 championship team, another celebrating the fearsome foursome that redefined defensive football in the 60s and 70s.
12:19That line featured two Hall of Famers in Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen.
12:23Could this Rams defensive line have the same? Aaron Donald Saturday leading a free D-line and O-line camp, along with Andrew Whitworth
12:30as a part of his AD99 foundation, trying to give back.
12:33Of course, the community loves having Aaron Donald. He's an ESPN take-back sports ambassador as well.
12:38But he was also, speaking of foundations, a part of that Rams Super Bowl foundation, Steve.
12:43And some recent appearances have people asking when and if he returns, and maybe even more when now.
12:48Yeah, I tell you what, I was at a season ticket holder event last night, not far from here at the YouTube Theater right across the street.
12:57And that was a conversation. Matthew Stafford, the quarterback, Trent McDuffie, Miles Garrett, were all asked about Aaron Donald.
13:02And they want him back, of course. But they all said, too, this is his decision.
13:07And that is the tenor that the team is taking as well.
13:11Because team officials, they want Aaron Donald in the fold as well.
13:15But they are not forcing any issue. Because one, they've got good players there as it is.
13:20But I was told that Aaron Donald is putting in significant work.
13:23That video we saw a couple weeks ago, that wasn't a one-off.
13:27He has been working out nonstop, not just lifting weights, but doing football drills, trying to get an optimum shape.
13:33And that could be the trigger. If he feels that he is in the ideal football shape, it's where he can come
13:40back and give it what he can give, then that's when he'll make his decision.
13:44And people I was speaking to made it seem like they are ready for him to come back in training camp, Mike, if he decides to do so.
13:53But again, it's almost an anticipation now that he will be in training camp at some point.
13:58Also, arriving at training camp with relative anonymity is Ty Simpson.
14:01Mike, because we still got to get Ty Simpson to have a deal.
14:05Just had one for Fernando Mendoza the day they report.
14:08We see the same situation with the second quarterback taken in this year's draft.
14:13Yeah, Ty Simpson, the last of the first-round picks, last of the quarterbacks to sign his deal.
14:18I don't sense any panic. I believe it'll get done here in the next couple of days when it needs to get done, so no sweat there.
14:26And then the question is, what role does he play this upcoming season?
14:30And right now he's the primary backup for this team or slated to be the primary backup for this team.
14:36Stetson Bennett's still on the roster. Does that mean that he's going to wind up being the number two guy going forward?
14:43I don't sense that that's done either yet for the Rams, that there could be another veteran that comes in at some
14:49point, that nothing's really set in stone, and there's really no hard plan for Simpson.
14:54It's just we drafted this guy because we feel like he's got a shot to be the quarterback of the future.
15:00We don't know when that's going to be, and we're not rushing him into any role here.
15:05Jimmy Garoppolo, I just reported the other day, that he is still considering playing in the right situation after considering retirement earlier in the spring.
15:13So who knows which way this may go for the Rams here, but at the very least, Ty Simpson's going to get in there.
15:20He's going to learn by watching and interacting with Matthew Stafford and this coaching staff and everybody else around, and then eventually he'll be ready down the line.
15:29And who knows, maybe he'll practice so well and play so well in the preseason and say, that's our number two guy.
15:36Even if Matthew Stafford goes down, we're confident with Ty Simpson.
15:39Let's see how it goes. An opportunity to earn a spot and maybe some attention as a lot of things have been
15:46going on in Los Angeles and the first-round quarterback kind of floating back to the wayside.
15:50We've got more camp discussion coming up here on the Insiders.
15:54The task ahead for Jesse Minter, improving a defense that was bottom 10 in yards per game.
15:59How does he go about that process coming up?
16:02We discuss. And rebuilding a defense through veteran talent.
16:04That's the hope for the Bengals in one of those additions.
16:08Boye Moffitt joins us. Coming up on the inside.
16:10Instant oil change. If your service lights on, trust the techs with the training.
16:15That's us. 270 hours with zero complaining. They train under the hood.
16:18They train down in the pit. Down here. 270 hours means their training's legit.
16:23It's the smart choice for smart folk who care for their steed.
16:26So trust the instant oil change that starts with Valvoline.
16:29Valvoline instant oil change. Change wisely. Let's take a look at some of the Bengals' notable additions this offseason.
16:35Of course, we highlighted the trade for Dexter Lawrence coming over from the Giants.
16:39Also got Brian Cook, Kyle Duggar, Cassius Howell, Jonathan Allen.
16:42All these guys defensive, including the Super Bowl champion, Boye Mafé, seen there now in his Cincinnati Bengals jersey.
16:48We could call it a new Cincinnati Bengals jersey.
16:51That was back in March. He signs the deal.
16:54Comes on. Get a chance to see him. Get a chance to see him now on the Insiders.
16:59Boye Moffitt, thank you for joining us. We've had April, May, June, most of July.
17:04Do you still feel like a new Cincinnati Bengal?
17:06And when did that newness start to wear off if it has?
17:10No, definitely. It's one of those things. It's a little bit of adjustment.
17:14It's one of those things like you're in your new kid in school.
17:18But definitely an adjustment. The guys welcomed me in with open arms and understanding what it's like to be a Bengal.
17:24And, you know, coming one of the guys that's in the fold.
17:28So it's been great. It's been a great opportunity.
17:31And me and everybody on the team, all the new guys as we all came in, is getting a chance to really get after it.
17:38You said they're teaching you how to be a Cincinnati Bengal.
17:42You can bring a little bit of something to them, though.
17:45I mean, you can show them what it's like to be a Super Bowl champion.
17:49Have you brought the ring in? I mean, do you come with some kind of credibility that's like, this guy knows what it takes.
17:57He's been there. For sure, 100%. It's one of those things that, you know, we coming in and, you know, not just
18:03me too, you know, with Brian Cook and the guys that they brought in.
18:08They brought in the guys that have been there, have done it.
18:11So, you know, it's definitely one of the things that we're chasing for this season.
18:16And, you know, I feel like with the guys they brought in and with the people that we have in the room, it's exciting.
18:23You know, it's one of those things is like when you have this level of talent and have these guys in the
18:30room, I think figure it would be like, it's one of those things is it's a puzzle you're putting together.
18:36And you realize that when you put the puzzle together, that it can be something.
18:41And I'm excited for that. And, you know, bringing the credibility and things that I know and things that I've learned from
18:47being with Seattle, not bringing it to Cincinnati. And with Brian bringing things that he learned in KC and the things he's
18:54done with how many times he's been to the Super Bowl alone, it was great to put it all together.
19:00And a part of putting that all together means adding to your responsibility coming from that loaded group in Seattle, an opportunity
19:07for you to perhaps play a little bit more because the rate stats, everything was great with the Seahawks.
19:12Have you changed anything about your training to kind of align with playing more snaps on this defense?
19:18For sure. I mean, you always have to every year.
19:21One thing I pride myself on is one of my vets told me in my rookie years, you're never going to be in the same team.
19:29You're never going to be in the same situation every year.
19:32So you have to adjust. You have to learn how to become a new player, you know, learn from what you happened last year to becoming this year.
19:41So obviously adding things, creating that repertoire, creating that, knowing that the workload is going to be what it's going to be
19:47and how to move that and go forward with it and become even better player than you were, quote unquote, before.
19:54So learning those things and going into this season, understanding what's going to be on my plate and how to adapt and be able to play with that.
20:02Up front, you got a couple of experienced guys, a couple of big guys too, by the way.
20:08Dexter Clark comes in. Jonathan Allen comes in as well.
20:11You know, yourself, this is a very new look defensive line and a defensive line that's expected to dictate things.
20:17How do you think all this experience and all that talent and all that size is going to work together up front?
20:24I feel like it's going to be a great thing because the fact is, is that coming from Seattle, we had a
20:30very old room, you know, I want to say guys, a lot of experienced guys who've been around the league for a long time.
20:38So coming to a room and bringing guys in with that same level of experience, guys who've been in the league for
20:44eight, nine, ten years plus, you know, those are things that are going to be factors coming into, you know, teaching the
20:51guys in the room as having a younger defense, having younger guys in the room.
20:55And for us, I think it's great for the young guys to learn from that, for everyone to see that, to see
21:02that, okay, this is what it takes to be a vet.
21:05This is what it looks like to be a vet.
21:09And I feel like with that in the room is going to be, you know, ill to none.
21:14And seeing how the success happened in Seattle, bringing that type of success to Cincinnati would be great.
21:19And as a part of that, because you spoke about them bringing you in as a leader when you initially signed, what
21:26does that look like on an individual level, working with guys that are younger, perhaps including these rookies, who get a chance to report this week?
21:34I feel like it's going to be one of those things.
21:37It's just, I think the thing that I appreciated when I was a younger guy was the vets teaching what it's like
21:44to be a real pro and understanding that, you know, coming into this is, you know, it's not what, it's not a
21:51situation where it's like, oh, we're just playing football.
21:53Like, no, it takes more than just playing football to be a real pro.
21:58It's the things outside of football. It's the things outside of just practice, outside of the meeting rooms.
22:03It's how you take care of your body. It's how you, you know, operate in the building.
22:08And those things are things that you, as an older guy coming in, you can teach younger guys, this is what it looks like.
22:16This is how you become a proper pro. So I feel as if, you know, those things helping them.
22:21And I'm actually excited to see what these rookies do.
22:24I feel like we have some talented rookies coming in and I'll be excited to see what the season has held for them.
22:31Cash is hell foremost amongst those rookies. There was taken in the second round by the Bengals.
22:37This defense took a lot of heat last year.
22:39You weren't there. I understand that. But this defense took a lot of heat and everybody said, they can just be middle of the pack.
22:47Look how good that offense is, right? I looked at this defense.
22:51I thought they got better as the season got on.
22:54And I think they started to understand what Al Golden was about, what he wanted.
22:58Did you sense that in the spring and that this defense has taken the next step with him and understanding him and him understanding the players better?
23:06Yeah, I definitely think it's a factor. I mean, think about it.
23:10When I was in Seattle, when we first had Mike there, it was one of those always a learning curve.
23:16When a coach comes in and, you know, guys are learning a new defense, learning a new system, there's going to be a learning curve.
23:24And even coming in the spring, I'm seeing the guys are comfortable with the defense.
23:28I'm seeing the guys are understanding everything. And so that's something that over time, going into another year with the same system,
23:35with the same thing, you're going to get more comfortable, that you're going to get more reps at it, and you're going to be able to understand.
23:43And like you said, it's like they're seeing the vision.
23:46They're seeing how he wants to run the defense and what he wants it to look like.
23:51So I think those are definitely things that you're going to kind of see this year of like, okay, this is what it looks like.
23:59This is how it's taking formation. It's starting to become his vision of what the defense will look like and the vision
24:06of the players with the defense and what they want it to look like.
24:10And in terms of what things look like, boy, obviously you had great fishing opportunities in Minnesota.
24:15Going to Seattle, a lot of fishing opportunities there.
24:18Have you been on the Ohio River yet? How have the local waters treated you thus far?
24:23I haven't had a chance to yet. You know, definitely a plan of mine to get on the waters.
24:29I love to fish. So one way, shape, or form, or another, we're going to find a way to get us something.
24:35You'll see it. I'll post it one of these days and be out there fishing.
24:40So I don't know how I'm going to do it or where I'm going to do it, but we'll get out the water one way.
24:48All right. We'll give you that opportunity to do that because it's almost time to report.
24:52You'll get focused on the day job. But good luck to you, boy, in the 2026 Cincinnati Bengals.
24:58Thanks for joining us, man. Thank you. Appreciate it for having me.
25:02Back here on the Insiders, day two of training camp for the Carolina Panthers.
25:06Yesterday marred the start of training camp with the season-ending injury to Nick Scorton.
25:10Today, we look at the offenses. Dave Canales likes what he sees thus far from Bryce Young, as well as Terro McMillan,
25:17who says guys on the outside aren't seeing enough.
25:19Just command of the system, confidence, a couple of signals today, taking advantage of some things, the chemistry that they've built over the summer even.
25:27We certainly had a great offseason, but the guys were able to get together and throw.
25:32It's just the me-to-you factor. The more time on task, it doesn't matter what route you're throwing to the guys, learning how
25:39they come out of breaks, learning how to anticipate different things.
25:42A really beautiful two-minute drive at the end where he hit Xavier a couple times.
25:47He hit TMAC a few times, dumped it down to Coker, was really matriculating the ball down the field with a lot of trust and confidence and anticipation.
25:55We're pretty good. I feel like we're very slept on.
25:58We have a lot of guys that may not have got the opportunities past a couple years, or even the rookies that
26:05haven't got any opportunities yet, but I'm looking forward to seeing what the future hopes for us.
26:10I'm excited. I'm excited we're going to make plays this year.
26:13It's been a few years since anybody slept on Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, the two-time MVP arriving in Owens Mills
26:20for the first training camp under his new head coach, Jesse Minner, a big part of last year for Baltimore with some inconsistency, especially in wrestling the passer.
26:28They traded Odafe Owe to Jesse Minner in the Chargers.
26:31He's able to get success with him. What can he do with the group that's there now?
26:37Jesse Minner back to try to get some pass rush going.
26:40Look, first off, we saw the Ravens. They tried to make the big splash for Max Crosby.
26:45That trade fell through after the Ravens failed Crosby on a physical.
26:49They go out and they get Trey Hendrickson, but now this is going to be appearing to see if the coaching, we
26:55talk about Jesse Minner and Anthony Weaver, former defensive coordinator down in Miami, had spent some time up in Baltimore, can get
27:02things going out of Hendrickson, but also Mike Green.
27:05Look, the Ravens only had 30 sacks last year.
27:08Only two teams were worse. Travis Jones led them with five sacks.
27:11One thing about Jesse Minner is he always has had at least two of his players have a minimum of six sacks.
27:18Last year, when he was with the Chargers, Tuli Tuiapalotu had 13, and he had multiple people on the outside and the inside have at least five sacks.
27:26If he can get that type of combination play from his defensive front, remember, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is a former defensive lineman and defensive line coach.
27:35If he can get that part of the defense going, that will allow some of that talent in the secondary and Roquan
27:41Smith in the middle at the inside linebacker to play Ravens football the way we've seen it.
27:47I think, Patrick, this is why Jesse Minter was brought back to Baltimore to get that defense back intact because that's what
27:53the Ravens have been known for for about 25 years.
27:56Yeah, it's a real fall off last year where it was.
28:00The offense saw some of the success of old but didn't necessarily execute to a very high level.
28:05So in comes Declan Doyle as the new offensive coordinator.
28:08What's the task ahead for him? Yeah, Declan Doyle, someone who comes highly regarded, a former tight end guy.
28:14And this is what's interesting is this is a team that's always excelled with the tight ends.
28:19We saw Isaiah likely go away. Mark Andrews is back.
28:22They draft two tight ends. Is that going to be part of the offense?
28:26We'll see because we know Lamar Jackson in this offense needs to get better with the wide receiver.
28:32The receiving core is still up in question. We know Isaiah Flowers.
28:35He's one of the best wide receivers in the NFL.
28:38But can Rashad Bateman step up or are they going to have to rely back on the tight ends to catch the football?
28:45Part of how everything could work with Declan Doyle, though, could be how this offensive line plays.
28:51Remember in the middle of this offensive line, they lost some pieces.
28:54They tried to rebuild with some new players. If they can get that part going, get Derrick Henry going, get the run
29:01action, that sets up everything on the play action and the deep pass, Patrick.
29:05That's where Declan Doyle, again, a highly thought of offensive coordinator, which is first time doing this, but he has the ultimate gadget in Lamar Jackson at quarterback.
29:14Yeah, over the course of last season, Lamar Jackson, one of the best.
29:18In terms of explosive plays, off of play action, people wonder about Lamar under center.
29:22The numbers speak for themselves. Why do they wonder about him under center?
29:26Because perhaps they haven't been watching a lot of football in the past six or seven years.
29:31We've got more coming up here on this edition of the Insiders coming out of Arizona.
29:36They've got some familiar places and names, but how do they deploy those pieces as well as those names?
29:42We talk with Omar Ruiz, who speaks with tackle Paris Johnson coming up next on the inside.
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30:11Change wisely. We're back here on the Insiders. The Arizona Cardinals started camp this week, and they did so with Jacoby Brissett
30:18in attendance as he worked towards what he hopes is a new deal after a career season last year.
30:24One of the folks tasked with protecting him, Paris Johnson, speaking with our Omar Ruiz after practice yesterday.
30:29Thank you very much. Parrish Johnson joining us now.
30:32Parrish, we know you're starting training camp on the physically unable to perform list.
30:36How's the knee, and when do you expect to be back?
30:39Yeah, right now I feel good right now. It's just the general maintenance stuff going on.
30:44I should be back in the next few days, but this is all part of the plan, you know.
30:50Speaking of the plan, Mike LaFleur installing his new offense.
30:53I know you've gone against him in the division the last couple years, obviously different side of the ball, but now that
31:00he's with you guys and you guys are installing this offense, what are the highlights?
31:04What are the takeaways? What do you like about what you've seen so far?
31:09Yeah, I love the system that he's installed. I love how well he's been able to teach the system besides just telling,
31:15you know, teaching us the guys we got to block, you know, that's at all levels, you know, you're just blocking the
31:22guy, the down guys and the linebackers, but telling us how involved the receivers are and the tight ends are and how
31:29they are involved in the playing too. So now we're all starting to play as one, almost like we're all in the meeting rooms at once.
31:37Yeah, totally. James Conner got hurt last year. He's coming back.
31:40Jeremiah Love, obviously number three overall pick in this year's draft.
31:43Tyler Algier is a part of this running game.
31:46How much excitement is there for you guys to get the ground game going again, heading into 2026, then potentially opening up the pass game?
31:54Yeah, I love the guys that we have in that room, being able to hand the ball to any of those guys,
32:00you know what they can do with the ball in their hands, especially with love.
32:05I'm excited to see him in his first year.
32:08You know, everyone's excited to see what he does in the preseason, including myself, but it'll be great to play with all
32:14the guys that we have right there. And I know that being able to be able to open up the defense and
32:21the run game is going to make the pass game even more electric, you know?
32:25What do you mean to you guys to have Jacoby Brissett back at practice today?
32:30Oh, it's awesome. I have Jacoby back in the building and I know he's here ready to work.
32:35When you look at what this 2026 season can be, what are your expectations for the 2026 Arizona Cardinals?
32:41My expectations for 2026 Arizona Cardinals is to win training camp.
32:45You know, right now, trying to look too far ahead.
32:48I don't think anybody in the league should be trying to do that right now.
32:52I think beginning to win training camp to win day one, to be able to, like, you know, like right now, we
32:59go off the field and as soon as we broke the huddle as a team, we're talking about, let's let today be
33:06the worst practice that we have and the goals that each and every day we're staying to stack these days and I
33:12think that's a winning team right there before we even kick the ball off come September, you know?
33:18Yeah, as Michael LaFleur said, they want to get better every day, gradually and urgently.
33:22Paris Johnson, good luck in training camp. Look to see you healthy here in a few days and the rest of the season.
33:29I appreciate it. Thank you very much. And thanks to the miracle of modern aviation, we have retrieved Omar Ruiz from Arizona.
33:36Sony's back here with us here in Los Angeles.
33:39You had an opportunity to get to see this team up close and personal.
33:43We've seen the McVay tree as it will. We've seen Coach LaFleur's brother operate an offense.
33:48What does this version of this LaFleur offense look like?
33:51Well, I think Mike LaFleur said during the offseason succinctly, it's not the Rams offense.
33:55It's not the 49ers offense in which he served under Kyle Shanahan previously.
33:59It's not the Packers offense. He referenced his brother there, head coach of the Green Bay Packers.
34:04But what it is going to be is a version of the Rams offense, a version of the 49ers offense, and perhaps a version of the Packers offense.
34:13After I caught up with Paris Johnson there, as we saw a few moments ago, I ran into Gardner Minshew coming off the practice field.
34:21And he said, the way Mike LaFleur has installed this offense, it is pieces of the Rams, it is pieces of the
34:2749ers, it is pieces of the Packers, but he's been able to narrow it down to digestible parts that the Cardinals now can employ for their own offense.
34:36And Mike LaFleur said during the offseason that they tore it down to the studs, and they rebuilt it from scratch, obviously
34:42taking the parts of his history and incorporating it in with the talent, the enormous talent that they have with those skill position groups.
34:50Obviously, Trey McBride is a superstar in the making.
34:52If he's not there already, the way he's produced the last couple seasons, they still have high hopes for Marvin Harrison Jr.
34:59to live up to that number four overall pick the way he was a couple years ago.
35:04And then Michael Wilson, the way he emerged with Jacoby Brissett there toward the end of last season, if they can get
35:11all that going with the pass game, we'll be able to see the benefits of Mike LaFleur's offense, the imprints that he'll
35:18have in Arizona now as that all comes together here for the 2026 Cardinals.
35:22Jeremiah Love drafted a pick before that Marvin Harrison pick.
35:25He's the number three pick coming in. Last year's highly touted top ten running back Ashton Gentey faced some real problems on his first year.
35:33What's the first year in the run game look like for Jeremiah Love?
35:37Well, I think the run game and how effective it is will tell one of the stories of the 2026 Arizona Cardinals.
35:43There he is and at practice yesterday, he looks every bit the part overall pick and somebody that you could build an offense around.
35:51Not even in pads but certainly looks the part there in the shells of the Arizona Cardinals uniform.
35:56But you throw in James Conner returning from that devastating ankle injury.
36:00Patrick, I think it's no coincidence when we saw last year the Arizona Cardinals start out 2-0 and then James Conner gets
36:06hurt in game number three and they lose 13 of 14 the rest of the way.
36:11So I think James Conner returning who has been a heart and soul of that franchise of the organization if he can get rolling again.
36:19Then they sign Tyler Algier over from the Atlanta Falcons to be another depth piece.
36:23So when you throw in Love and the expectations for them if they can get that running game going to be a
36:30force that they hope it to be to pair with the aerial attack and all those weapons and you throw in Jeremiah
36:37Love there you see his capabilities in the pass game as well.
36:40Bring it all together. You certainly have hope this time of year for what the Arizona Cardinals can be as you heard
36:47Mike LaFleur say yesterday that they want to improve gradually and urgently as they get ready for week one against the LA Chargers on September 13th.
36:55Yeah, fortunately the division is not too much of a problem facing off against the rest of that NFC West.
37:01Omar Ruiz on the card. This is what 49ers fans wanted to see.
37:05It's Brock Purdy hitting Mike Evans as those two got to work back in minicamp.
37:10The 49ers veterans report to training camp this Saturday.
37:12Mike Evans, one of those notable additions that they have had also bring in former Texans receiver Christian Kirk.
37:18Osia Dikazua comes over from the Cowboys. Dre Greenlaw is back after some time with the Broncos also rehabbing.
37:24He is back as well as Nate Hobbs joins from the Green Bay Packers.
37:28And then there's Brandon Ayuk as we kind of take a look back through his social media posts.
37:34A lot of flirtation with the Washington commanders as the 49ers have done what they could to keep Brandon Ayuk from getting
37:40paid, keeping him on that reserve slash left team list.
37:43And we will see if Brandon Ayuk reports to the 49ers coming up over this weekend.
37:48But they've got some other veterans and also receivers to pay attention to as they bring in Mike Evans.
37:54And they've also got some help in the draft as well, Steve.
37:58Yeah, first up on the Ayuk thing. First off, he's got to ask Commissioner Roger Goodell for permission to come off of
38:04that reserve left team list and get permission granted before he can even show up at the Niner facility.
38:10And then they have to either cut him, trade him, whatever they want to do with him.
38:15But let's get back to the receivers that are there.
38:18And we talk about Mike Evans and Christian Kirk joining a receiver group that's been completely overhauled as it needed to be.
38:25Last year, the Niners' leading receiver was running back Christian McCaffrey with 102 catches.
38:29The next leading receiver was George Kittle with 57 and Jawan Jennings, the wide receiver, had 55.
38:34He's gone. So you add Mike Evans, a future Hall of Famer, somebody who gives them just leadership respect, makes the tough catches.
38:41Then you add Christian Kirk, a big play, deep threat guy.
38:45Remember, they drafted DeJuan Stripling, too, with the first pick in the second round out of Mississippi, 6-3 burner.
38:50A lot of people kind of questioning why they did this, but he had a very strong minicamp.
38:56He's somebody who may make a case to be their number three.
39:00Remember, Mike, Ricky Pearsall, former first round draft pick.
39:02He's been there for two years, only played in 20 games, really hasn't stood out, but he's got an opportunity to make a name for himself, too.
39:10Again, this is a redone receiving room, which is something that Niners absolutely had to have to open up their offense as
39:17they try to get back into the postseason and make a deep run.
39:21Pearsall, before he got hurt, was looking really good.
39:24After he got hurt, he seemed like he was affected after that.
39:27Now fully healthy, and you add these guys. And from everything I've heard, Mike Evans, the way he's approached practice day in
39:34and day out in the spring is like a guy that's trying to prove himself, not a future Hall of Famer that
39:41is just putting a bow on the end of his career.
39:44So that's exciting when you think about it, if you're the 49ers.
39:48The other thing that's exciting is right now, you're healthy.
39:51I mean, it's probably the healthiest you're going to be, San Francisco 49ers.
39:55And this is not even a substation joke. This is just a team that has had a lot of injuries and last
40:01year had a lot of injuries, particularly on defense.
40:04And that's the sucky part, right? Guys getting hurt that you like Nick Bosa, I mean, all these guys.
40:10The good part is now your second stringers and even your third stringers have played some significant snaps and they've got that
40:17experience under their belt so that if you need them and you will, I mean, not just you, but every team's going to need their second stringers.
40:25These guys are now more experienced and more ready to play in more season and all that stuff.
40:30And they'll play alongside the starters. So stay healthy, right?
40:33Like let's not have that again. And now all of a sudden you've got incredible depth.
40:38You've got interchangeable parts. You've got all that on defense for Raheem Morris who takes over for Robert Sala.
40:44I know they feel really good about that defense.
40:47Knock on wood. Yes, knock on wood. As we think for the great marketing opportunity over there on the east side of
40:53the stadium for a sub station to, you know, well done.
40:57Oh, bravo. Sub station as we don our tinfoil hats on this edition.
41:01Sub station. On the insiders. There it is. It's a sandwich.
41:04And also science. Hey folks, flag football is the fastest growing sport in the world.
41:09The third annual NFL flag football championships on ABC ESPN NFL network and ESPN2.
41:13It started today. Great work by Chris Rose and Kyle Brent on the call every day.
41:18Additional coverage on ESPN2 ABC as well as ESPN Deportes.
41:21All the games on the ESPN app for more information go to NFL flag.com.
41:25My name is Plexico Burris. I played for the New York Giants.
41:29And I scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl.
41:31The Patriots were the best football team in regular season history offensively.
41:35Then they had just came into Giants Stadium and beat us in week 16.
41:39So they were 16 and 0. And we got another opportunity to play them.
41:44Everybody asked us why we were wearing all black to Arizona.
41:47And we said that we're going to a funeral.
41:50They were not going to go 19 and 0 on us.
41:53It just wasn't going to happen. In Super Bowl 42, the Giants in improbable loss, they've won three in a row.
41:59The New England Patriots trying to rewrite history. 18 and 0.
42:03We're out in Arizona and I just come out of the shower and my foot just slipped on the tile or whatever.
42:09I kind of like tweaked my knee. And nobody thought that I was going to play.
42:14Before the game, me and Eli, we went out and threw some routes.
42:18I really didn't feel too good about it. And to be honest with you, I cried because I walked around the stadium
42:25and I was like, man, I can't play. What are you doing about all your life?
42:30We're here now. I found a way to wheel myself through the injury and go out and play.
42:35Airs it out. Down is caught by Tyree. I remember after that play, I went over and I grabbed David Tyree.
42:42I was like, man, oh my gosh, do you know what you just did?
42:46I said, man, you just saved the Super Bowl.
42:4929 seconds to go. Giants down by four. Three receivers right, first left.
42:53I was in so much pain at that time.
42:55I made a decision. I said, if I go for this ball and I have to jump, if I tear my whole
43:02entire knee up, it doesn't even matter because I made it to this point.
43:06I'm going to go for it. Lobs it. Burris alone.
43:09Touchdown. Lexico Burris had been held down all night.
43:12It's a feeling of, like, euphoria. This quarterback and his receiver just made the biggest plays of their Giants career.
43:18My knee was in pain, but I never felt my feet hit the ground.
43:22It was like he was just playing all air.
43:25Improbable win. I've won Super Bowl XLII. To be able to watch that trophy.
43:29It's a moment that he never wanted to end.
43:32I had my son in one hand and the trophy in the other.
43:36I still have that picture on my wall still to this day.
43:4018 years since that Super Bowl, 16 years for Cam Jordan in the NFL comes into this one rocking some frosted tips.
43:46More like 1998. In 2008. And how about Drew Aller?
43:49Congratulations. The signed deal official for him. Welcomed officially as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
43:54We got a deal for Fernando Mendoza this week.
43:57Here he is with Darren Peterson. We got two top two picks.
44:01Darren Peterson drafted number two in the NBA draft.
44:03And how about this? A welcome to the city for LeBron James from Saquon Barkley, who's been in Philly now for a couple of years.
44:11Let me know when you're trying to tee it up.
44:14And what about teeing up this as a new addition to the Bills' new stadium?
44:19A giant folding table right there in the concourse.
44:21As we see, it's very close to the ceiling, Mike.
44:24So not a lot of space for anybody potentially to jump on it.
44:28But sometimes life finds a way. How do you feel about the folding table?
44:33It's a monument to Bill's fandom and to Bill's fans everywhere.
44:36I love it. It's very fitting. You're right. There's not enough room there.
44:40I don't think it's meant to be functional. Right?
44:43I think it's just a honorary piece, a decorative piece, I guess you could say.
44:47I love it. Fantastic. I love the idea of the other folding tables that we associate with Bill's fandom being functional, and
44:54they are to a certain extent until they meet their end.
44:57Well, we had Mike Rob jump through one at training camp a couple of years ago, and the crew still uses that table.
45:04Everybody signed it. There it is. The tables. It takes us where we need to be.
45:09They bring us food. They bring us football. We thank you for joining us here at our table on The Insider.
45:15We'll see you next week. This is an iHeart Podcast.
45:18Guaranteed Human.
