Big Injury Comebacks, I Can Fix Him and ... Roger Goodell Joins the Show!

Welcome to NFL Daily, where the first time ever we got the commissioner on the show. I'm Greg Rosenthal here in a conference room in a way too swanky hotel for us in the middle of Paris with my friends Jordan Roderig and Connie Fox herself. We found her.

You said that I was flaky on the last show. And I just want to know where that came from. We're going to come out of the gate with that. Paris Colleen coming in hot.

We had an interview with Roger Goodell earlier this morning. Where were you?

I was not invited.

I had to stand in, Colleen.

No, to be fair, Colleen was not invited to that because she's done it so many different times.

And also, she's not flaky.

No, she's not flaky. flaky. It's more that you just feel a little extra excited when you show up.

I will buy that. I know you're selling it to me, but I'm buying.

She is here as part of NFL events. So if you happen to be at the game on Sunday in Paris, she'll be up there on the big screen. Jordan and I will be doing some talk sport radio if you want to check that out. But for now, we're going to do this podcast. It's a little awkward because we've got some boss figures in front of us. We've got Alex Fregola. We got a whole camera crew.

I'm going to be studying all of your facial expressions the entire time.

And we're also sitting next to each other in chairs. Can you see me when I do this?

No.

Okay. It's fine, guys. We can do this. We're professionals.

It's an audio medium. It's also a visual medium. And so it's raining outside the craziest thing about the day has already occurred, which is, yes, we did interview Roger Goodell. That was just my Jordan and myself. Let's go listen to it because it would feel weird if we did the Puka Nakua injury news and then maybe a little French, I can fix him, like, before Roger Goodell.

He's the headliner.

Let's go to the commissioner.

Here he is.

We are here with Commissioner Roger Goodell, about two feet away from me. We're in a hotel room in Paris. This is a little surreal, Jordan.

I cannot believe we're in Paris. I'm sure it hasn't quite even sunk in for you yet, but watching the Saints take such advantage of this opportunity where they have the marketing rights and flying in here and seeing how, I mean, the Eiffel Tower and everything there is. What has this been like for you and How have the Saints really embraced this opportunity?

Well, they're the perfect team here because of their connection, obviously, to France. And they take such great pride in that. And I think that's part of the culture. And that connection is going to be wonderful for this event. But having the Steelers here, too, is pretty cool. They're a global brand and obviously have a lot of fans on a worldwide basis. And it's going to be a great football game, which is what counts too.

Yeah, I never expected to be here in Paris covering an NFL game. But we have a huge international audience. About 35% of our listeners are overseas.

Well, after today, we'll make it 40%.

We'll try to make it a little more. I've been coming here for about a decade in terms of Europe. It was London. And that got me thinking, how important is... the international TV rights and the media rights when it comes to trying to grow this game?

Well, they're all important, whether it's your partnerships in the media or sponsorships or, frankly, playing the games. But they all have to be coordinated. They all have to work together. But ultimately, as you know, even in the States, the media partners are the ones that give you the greatest access to the fans, ultimately. And And you all do that, right?

You get to learn a lot more about the game, the players, the strategy, what's happening in the league. So media partnerships are really critical to us. And we look for the best media partners, as many as we can, and have that global reach and to be able to give fans. The best experience possible, whatever platform they want to watch on.

Yeah.

And Roger Goodell admitted right before we got on here, NFL Daily listener and viewer. So thank you so much for that.

I'm working on that 40% for you too, even though it don't count as an international one.

Yeah. I want to hear what your favorite segments are later. We'll put you on the spot. Peter O'Reilly, your colleague said this week, you know, they are looking for potentially 10 international games this next season that that's the maximum allowed under the CBA. Wondering if you want to help us out and give a little exclusive of maybe where some of them could be. And ideally like Tokyo, because I'll have a free place to stay there with my in-laws, very close to the old NFL offices.

If you want to go, you know, reopen that.

That would be fun.

Listen, Tokyo is clearly on, on our list.

Whether it's next year or the year after it's coming at some point in the near future. As we continue to look at, we're going to focus, continue to focus on our priority markets, which a lot of them they've been in, but there are other cities this year. We went to Rio rather than Sao Paulo. Australia was off the charts on a Friday morning at 1030 to have a hundred thousand people in the stadium was, it was just an incredible experience for us.

So, I think it's opened up new opportunities for us.

The travel is something we think we can manage and do it without impacting negatively on the teams. So each of these, we learn something from and we benefit. And we also, I think, open those other doors. So we're playing and I'm playing globally. That's where we're going.

Holding you to that.

Take us with you.

Roger, I love flag football, so I can't let you get out of here without a flag football question.

Yeah, me too.

I've been so enjoying watching the growth, stateside and internationally, of the sport. It's fascinating. LA28 obviously coming up too. What have been the catalysts for that growth in your mind, some of the keys to that expansion as much as we've seen?

Well, you know, the thing that I probably get the greatest– benefit from and and i guess it's a reward is watching young people play our sport uh because there's so many great things you get from playing the sport it's it's the confidence it's the ability to compete it's the ability to come through resilience and teamwork um is so important in our game as you know and uh to as a father of two girls to to see young women playing our sport it's even more rewarding because I think it is particularly during those more difficult years for all of us and growing up, it gives you that ability to sort of understand yourself a little better and give yourself self-confidence. So I think it's a future of

sports because we are seeing men and women compete and we're seeing them compete together in some cases in flag football, which has been fun to watch also. So It's accessible, and I think it's a way for kids to really truly understand about this game, but more importantly, themselves.

So I wanted to thank you, Roger Goodell. You don't know this. We're birthday buddies.

We are both February 19th.

Is that right?

I don't think the same year, though.

Not the same year. February 19th. You might be surprised by that, actually.

Oh, really? I don't think so.

On our old podcast, we used to joke, Chris Wesseling, our late friend, great friend, We all shared February 19th. We used to say the three most important people in the NFL. Really holding up myself, Chris, and you.

Well, I appreciate you putting me in that group.

Now he's got his name on our studio. But speaking for him, we thank you for holding up your end of the bargain.

Thank you. I'll do my best. Now that I know I have that kind of pressure.

Well, that was something I've never done in my life. 20-something years covering the NFL. I had once met Roger Goodell-ish. At like a going away party to some media member when I had a desk at the NFL offices. I'm sure he remembers that fondly. That was fun, though.

That was good.

He was up for it.

That was really fun. I really love that you informed him that you guys are birthday buddies.

It's important.

That was a very nice moment. I really enjoyed that.

I'm glad you guys bonded. That's good.

Pisces, you know, we're an emotional. Oh, it explains so much, Greg. So much. Even though Roger and I are the pictures of masculinity. Totally. Also, Pisces. Intuitive, you know, emotional.

That's Greg.

That's Raj, too.

What are you and your close personal friend, Roger Goodell, going to do with the rest of your time in Paris?

Good question. I don't know what he's up to. He seemed to, you know, be busy.

Maybe a trip to the Louvre.

I'm sure you'll get a text from him later, though, so it'll be fine.

That's fine. I would be stressed out if we had to hang out again. I'm glad.

He's a great hang.

We did it. You know him much better. Yeah.

That's why I should have been invited.

How's that working out for you? Yeah, it's a new world here at NFL Media, and we appreciate, obviously, that he made the time. So one thing we haven't had a chance to do all week, even going back to our shows in L.A., which were a little different. Check out those around the AFC, NFC. We hit all 32 teams.

We haven't really hit like the news of the week. I know we have the Thursday night football game in the rearview mirror. Thank you to Patrick Claibon and Nick Shook. for handling that recap well we tried to get some sleep.

Did you guys actually sleep or were you also awake when the game was on here I have.

Been sleeping great now that I've said that cool it's gonna be awful but I woke up like at a regular time and I caught their recap show it was great like Jordan!

I don't know, man.

I've never been to Paris before and I'm just stumbling into my full personality.

You're meant to be here.

I'm meant to be here.

Yeah, not only has she been sleeping great, she's just been telling everyone about it. No, mine was fine. It was totally fine. So we're going to get everyone updated on the news. It's already Friday here in Paris. And then, like I said, we're going to finish the show. We'll see how this is going to go with a quick, I can fix them in French. I hope you guys are ready for that.

I can't wait to hear you say it.

And there's a lot of news, a lot of injury items that I wanted to hit. We'll start with the three biggest stars that it sounds like are returning to the field. Number one, Lamar Jackson back at practice on Thursday. He was there for a limited part of practice on Wednesday that the media didn't see, but the media saw him out there. He was moving well. We're playing it a little risky here because we're taping so early, but I have to assume there's a very good chance that Lamar Jackson is starting this game a big one against The Bengals. Saquon Barkley is back at practice. Last chance saloon for this Eagles team on Monday night. That'll help everything.

Sounds like he will be playing in that game against the Cowboys. Can anyone fix them? We'll get to that in a second. And Baker Mayfield, I believe, will be starting. It's expected. He talked to the media. And so he will be back for a big game against the Panthers. Why don't you start with Saquon since you're... What about Lamar?

Philadelphia Eagles. Well, we'll get to it. I'm just saying, like... Does this give you any hope? Monday night. It does feel like a game between them and the Cowboys that if the Eagles can't win this one, you start thinking about what's next for this team.

Start thinking about?

Sure.

I've been thinking about that. But couldn't you just make the Cowboys miserable?

Wouldn't that be fun?

Of course it would. But the whole division is miserable. So everyone is in misery. But I mean, the fact that the Giants are in first place right now, you know how I feel about I love the Giants and everyone that plays for them. But I think when I look at Saquon Barkley and the team itself, 2024, when he was offensive player of the year, that was a totally different ask for him to come in and be able to put the offense on his back. And now you're going to do it with Tanner McKee. This is it's that's asking way too much.

Yeah, I'm interested in this entire month leading up to, of course, the trade deadline with the Eagles. They're sort of going to be rebuilding, and they have been. We've talked about this with you, Colleen, about how they're going to be almost rebuilding on the fly, but in-season instead of in the off-season, as many teams actually end up doing.

And I'm not saying that we should be speculating about how high-profile a player should or might be traded. by the Eagles, but they will get some calls about probably every single player on that roster. That's that, you know, that's valuable. And so it is interesting to me because if they can't block form, this run game is not going to look any different than it has, frankly, but maybe just tantalizing enough to see if, Hey, is, are we even going in the right direction here? Or is it time to fully move on from, you know, some of the concepts and the scheme.

And, Yeah, he's returning to almost a completely different team.

And a different offensive coordinator is a possibility this season. Look, I think Saquon Barkley will be one of those players that opponents call about. 100%. As bad as they have run blocked this year and as wonky as the scheme has looked, he's still Saquon Barkley. And the numbers with him on the field are vastly different than when he has been off the field. And I think he could make that offense look a lot better. So I'm looking at that. I... I'm always hesitant to assume too much when it comes to Lamar and his health. But assuming he is back for this game against the Bengals, what do you think about the Ravens and this matchup against the good Bengals front?

Well, I love it for the Ravens because we've been really excited to watch this offense become more fully realized with all of the things that Declan Doyle is sort of starting to put into place schematically. this run game being a lot more dimensional when Lamar is in it. And just the, the threat that he poses also as a passer against a secondary that really has deflated. I think the front, the Bengals front is fantastic still. And, and the on-off splits will prove it, but I just think that this gives them so much more dimension and really opens up the playbook for Declan Doyle. And I'm just not sure the Bengals defense as well built as that front lines is now has the horses to keep up with it.

I also think that that defense is, has quietly given up a lot to rushing quarterbacks and quarterback runs in general.

Yeah, because they're not running in the middle where Dexter Lawrence is.

Right, exactly.

Run at the linebackers.

And even their last three games, I think they've given up an average of 155 rushing yards per game. So the last three have not been good. And Lamar Jackson, if he's 80%, that's not Lamar. His whole game is his burst. So I'm wondering what kind of Lamar we're going to get, and that's going to dictate... The game itself, because if he has his mobility, then he has this could be a perfect scenario for him to be able to get right a little bit here against this defense going around with some of the quarterback runs. But otherwise, if he's in the pocket, that's that's not going to.

farewell for the Ravens.

Based on his history, Lamar does not generally come back until he is 100%. And I've seen a lot of speculation. It's like, oh, well, it's his contract year. I get that. And Lamar is always very weird about his injuries, where the team sometimes indicates maybe he'll be back sooner than he actually is. And Like no one has had the common cold more than Lamar Jackson in the last five years.

And yet when it was first reported, they basically said this was a high ankle sprain. There was reporting and it probably was a two to three week injury. So I blame the team more on this one that they were trying to make the opponents over the last few weeks feel like he had a chance when he probably never really did. Here we are three weeks later. It is, I think, the biggest game on Sunday because we'll get to the Steelers eventually. We got our picks coming up.

I'm going to make you guys. Pick a shit. Pick games here. That'll be our Saturday morning show. But I am interested in picking this Paris game. And this division is is better than you think. And the Bengals right now are in last place and they don't want to be further in last place.

And the Ravens also have coming up on their schedule. They have the Bills and Jacksonville right after this game.

Their schedule is a little tougher in general this season. And yes, Baker Mayfield returning tonight. Just in time, I'm the last member of the media to not give up on this Buccaneers team, but they have to beat Carolina on Sunday at 1-5 to kind of keep their season and NFC South hopes afloat. If it's day ending and why, there's more bad news about the Rams, Jordan. Puka Nakua left practice with a calf injury.

Yeah. This is different than the hip. slash groin slash reported pre hernia situation that he previously was dealing with.

He also has looked kind of like Mike Evans this year in the sense that every catch that he makes, he is slow to get up off the field. He has never quite looked as fresh as I'm sure that they would like him to look. He has carried as big a workload over the last three plus years as any wide receiver in the NFL in terms of his catches and his blocking. And if there is a scenario where there's no Puka Nakua in this game, or in future weeks, we'll see. No Devante Adams. It's a matchup against the Raiders this week. You've watched this offense forever.

How do you think Sean McVay, you know, how do you think Sean McVay coaches around no Puka and no Devante Adams? It would be a new challenge.

I can tell you what I would like to see whether or not that actually happens. Who's to say, um, you know, the other thing that's a huge factor here that I, you know, I know he hasn't played a ton of snaps, second year tight end, Terrence Ferguson, still not returned to the field and not eligible to return until next.

Week, I believe.

And I know people are like, oh, how can you factor him in so much? He hasn't played a ton of snap. He was supposed to be there. Explosive downfield threat in 13 personnel. Specifically, the Rams can't get into that personnel grouping. without being truncated down by the defenses now because they don't have any explosivity in that concept.

So that's also like a shorthanded concept that they have in their playbook. So for me, the answer is your two back sets and getting the backs involved in the passing game, Blake Corham, Kyron Williams, building layers into the passing game using those two running backs who have really been one of the few consistent bright spots about this team.

When the Rams have run the ball, they've run the ball well. They're throwing it a lot right now. It seems like they just really want to keep doing that. But I just say lean on the backs. That is absolutely where the strength and really the heartbeat and the actual emotion of this team.

Is right now.

And I just think they need that. They need an emotional lift as much as they need a strategic one.

And on the defense, everyone, look, this is an opportunity for them to, hey, look, we're down a bunch of players and we go get a tough road win in Las Vegas. And It's totally possible. Look at the 49ers. Look at a lot of teams that have been devastated by injuries this year. If you still look at the rosters of both these teams.

But look at the records.

The Rams and the Raiders, absolutely. I'm just saying the Rams are still the more talented team. So I don't want to hear any excuse. I think they can go get it. They are favored in this game. I think they should be.

Well, this is a 2-4 team that they went from having the best wide receiver duo, arguably, in the entire league with Devante Adams and Puka Nakua to having Munfield. And that's it. Like right now, it just, when you look at the numbers and I went back and looked at this, uh, Adams and Puka 67 catches this season, all other Rams wide receivers combined, uh, What? This is not a great situation.

This is what you were doing at 1.30 in the morning while you couldn't fall asleep.

There was a lot going on. I really went down a lot of rabbit holes here. But when you're two and four at this point and you basically... were the team that everyone was looking to just be a powerhouse this year. Now you have no Devontae, Puka's hurt, you lost Miles Garrett, Puna Ford's injured. Like this is, I mean, Kobe Turner. This is a team that is a little dicey.

A little backs against the wall and an opportunity for them. So we will see how that game goes on Sunday. Now here's a topic I've been waiting to get into. And I feel... a little more self-conscious about it with an audience in front of it.

Ooh, that means it's going to be good. Let's settle in here.

It's Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. We have reached the point of the reporting in this process. We do cover the broadcasting partners and everything that goes on covering the league. I'm into the broadcast. And the drip, drip, drip of the Joe Buck, Troy Aikman.

The girls are fighting.

I was going to say mom and dad are not doing good.

Yeah.

At first, I wanted to believe that maybe a little more was being made out of it than was actually true. But once InTouch Magazine somehow got involved, like how does InTouch Magazine have a source? And we have four different outlets reporting on the story. It seems like a real story that number one, their marriage is probably dissolving. And you never know when money gets involved. If ESPN wanted to make the decision to keep these two together, they could.

But it does appear that there is some friction between Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, which started basically because Joe Buck signed his contract moving forward without Troy Aikman knowing. And according to the reporting that they told him he could potentially have a different analyst and he still signed that.

Oh yeah.

As someone that's been in a lot of high octane broadcasting negotiations, what's your perspective?

I have a lot of, a lot of history with that. It's, I think the thing that is probably the worst in this situation is that one of them was negotiating like they were a package deal and then found out that the other one wasn't.

And can I stop you there? To be fair, Troy Aikman signed with ESPN well before Joe Buck ever did. When he went there, Joe Buck ended up getting permission to leave eventually, but he was still under contract for another entire whole season. So when Troy Aikman signed that ESPN contract, he probably was assuming Joe Buck was not coming.

So I'm just... trying to at least understand it, but you can imagine.

They've been together for 25 years, Greg.

We have to talk about it at least.

The fact that they were not talking about it and that it came to a point where, yeah, that there was.

Men communicate with each other.

No, I'm sad about this. They're probably not Pisces, you know, like me and Raj.

I'm- I'm, I was telling you about, I'm legitimately distraught about this. Like parasocially speaking, I, that's my favorite booth. They are, they have educated me. They, I just, I absolutely adore that booth and that pairing. And I know there's a lot of, wide range of opinions about them. And we certainly, you know, that, that is a profession where you are just subject to the like tiniest detailed criticisms and, and feedback and everybody has a different opinion, but man, I love that booth. That booth is football to me. And I am really genuinely sad about this.

Get it together guys.

Yeah. Great point. I love that booth too. I think they are the closest thing we've had to Madden and Summerall. They are a great pair, but yeah, As we've discussed in our almost weekly discussions about death on the show, Colleen, everything comes to an end eventually.

I thought maybe it wouldn't come up this week because it's not Tuesday.

This would be more like a partnership career death. So I will, if it does happen, I'll appreciate the times that we've had. And it does put an interesting light on the first ever Super Bowl that ESPN's ever had. And we're building to that.

And so.

I'm really fascinated what else happens. I'm fascinated if that booth does change, who replaces Troy Aikman.

It's not going to be the same.

Maybe Greg Olson slides over there. It's a possibility.

Yeah, but I just like Troy and Joe together.

Maybe.

Football's more fun.

Amazon's had their eye on me.

I just got my Troy Aikman impression nailed, guys. And then now all of this. Come on.

Troy's not going anywhere. Troy will have opportunities if it's not at ESPN. Maybe Amazon. Wait, you have an impression?

Of Troy Aikman, yeah.

What is it?

Go.

I'm not going to do it on the show. No?

What do you mean you can't bring it up and then not do it? What a tease.

Okay, okay, okay. So he always is like this, right? And he goes, well, I don't.

Know about that call.

There you go. I don't know about that call. That's good.

You guys had to see the body language too. So if you watch it, if you're just listening to the show, yeah.

I appreciate that.

You got more rec time.

I got more rec time.

More to come in this space. JJ Watt, by the way, is officially the CBS number one moving forward permanently. They announced it is not an interim tag that you had on JJ Watt replacing Tony Romo. So it's going to be him and Jim Nance for a while.

Which is interesting because that could have been a landing spot for Troy.

You do wonder if the timing of that being announced and the contracts getting done where like there's only so many seats. So it behooves JJ Watt to get that thing locked down if it was a possibility. And we'll be watching them obviously in the future. Uh, before we leave the JJ section of the show, JJ McCarthy, we did mention it on our show from Versailles. That was Thursday.

I'm losing track of date.

That's so crazy. We did a show from Versailles.

Yeah, it really was. I did just want to take like one quick moment to recognize here we are. It's not even Halloween and JJ McCarthy. If someone had told this in mid August, JJ McCarthy is going to be starting games indefinitely. for the first place New York Giants in a potential playoff push. Like, that's just something that is happening. Sometimes like, oh, it's like, of course. Oh, yeah, J.J., Jameis is bad. It's like, I can't believe this is happening.

I don't know how the resident Giants fan in the room, Alex Fregola, feels about it. Like, yeah, you're nay. You pro.

A shrug.

I mean, it's probably not going to get much worse than Jameis looked. in the beginning of last week.

Yeah, it was terrible, bad decision-making, hesitant pocket movement, couldn't create. And then J.J. McCarthy came in, and this is what I was saying in our recap show. No, it wasn't perfect, and yes, it was sort of desperation moments, and then the Saints at one point had subbed out their defensive starters and then were like, oh, crap, and then put them back in. But for me, it was like the catalytic, like the crowd got back into it.

And John Harbaugh knows....

The importance of playing the crowd, like the home crowd. He knows you need a spark. You need somebody who can create the way that J.J. McCarthy did, and you want him to build confidence. He flushed his pick very, very well. To me, I think that was probably what led to him getting this job, less so even the other play that he had.

You know what's not a great way to build confidence?

What's that?

To go to Houston and play the Texans defense as a 10.5-point underdog. I can't believe the Texans are favored by it that much, but that is a tough... First spot. But man, the JJ, the Michigan fans are out. Our friend Tracy Sandler, like a lot of people became Giants fans this week because of JJ McCarthy.

And we might have more on this coming up.

Oh, OK. That might be in the pick show. Just wrapping up the news with some injury items. Elijah Vera Tucker of the Patriots, who, of course, lost on Thursday night. He's going to injured reserve Cole Comet. got seriously injured in that game. And after the game, Ben Johnson indicated it does not look good for their second tight end there.

Josh Simmons, the Chiefs left tackle, is going to injured reserve, has not played at all this season. I had one good Chiefs prediction, which was that they were going to win the division. I'm feeling good about that. But the worst thing I said, the worst take I had on the entire show all offseason was that Josh Simmons was maybe like the single most important non quarterback for any team in the league. He hasn't played a snap and they're five or no.

So you win some, you lose some.

I'll revisit my book where I keep written copies of all of your takes and let you know if that was the worst one. I, um, I look forward to that.

And Brees Hall and, um, who else are they getting back? Adonai Mitchell for the Jets. Uh, they, they have missed him on offense. Let's take a quick break here and we are going to wrap up the show on the other side. Uh, with a little segment I like to call Chez Pou, Le Rapparee. We are back on NFL Daily.

What hotel is this called? Who knows? It's way too nice for us.

I feel like that's a security problem.

We don't need to give that sort of information. They're like, oh, don't even mention where the Saints are staying. Okay. We have a segment that we have done in the off-season created by executive producer Jordan Roderig, who... gets royalty checks every time we do it. And so she just pushed hard. We got to get this done. We should be doing this every week, right? We should be doing it every week.

I'll get a better rate because of the Euro exchange. Who knows? Let's do a little segment we like to call I Can Fix Him. But in France, we would call it J'ai Peu Le Reparie. I did not take French, but Jordan did.

I did not either. So how did he do?

I like how he wrote it better for the listener. He wrote it phonetically. So you just picture how that looks.

Yeah. P-O-O. Let's start with Colleen. We're just going to have one quick I can fix him related to this 2026 season.

I can fix him. I can fix him.

J.J.

McCarthy.

Oh, geez.

Listen.

Get us that engagement, Colleen.

You need to wrap it, though, with The French pronunciation. That is part of the segment.

Okay. Okay.

That's fair. The situation in Minnesota was just all wrong for him. They trade up to get him. He misses his entire rookie season, takes over the team after Sam Darnold when they went, what, 14-3 that season. So he was expected to kind of keep that going. And instead, obviously, he threw 11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions. His chaotic style of play led to a lot of other setbacks, including the high ankle sprain, the concussion. He had a throwing hand fracture.

So the fix is to go to the Giants and not be asked to put the team on his back, but just Don't sink the team. That's it. Like we're just, just do, just keep everyone afloat here. You don't have to press like he did before. And I think too, McCarthy's mobility also is a lot better, a fit, a swap than Jameis was for Jackson Dart. when they lost Dart.

Because he has it? Because he has it. And that's a big deal. That's a big part of it. But their running game just doesn't work right now either. And so I think potentially you can get a lot more out of Cam Scadaboo as well with this. So I can fix J.J.

McCarthy.

Je peux les reporter?

No.

What is it?

Reparer.

Like repair, you know?

Oh!

That was worth the ticket price to fly over here right there. I agree with you. There was a report that Cam Scadaboo is not getting back that kind of bell cow starting job from the local media, even though they cut Najee Harris, that they might be looking for a running back. Wow. You know, Saquon could be available.

Don't even.

They could be looking for a running back. So that Cam Scadaboo is kind of more of a compliment.

You don't think that that's just to light a fire?

It could possibly be. Jonathan Taylor has been mentioned as a possible trade candidate. I hear everything you're saying about J.J. McCarthy. I have seen a lot of open receivers for this Giants team. I got to say, like, Jameis Winston has had chances in a lot of these games.

Against the Saints defense?

The Saints helped. Interesting. In general, it hasn't been a great one for the football nerd community, like myself, that Greg Roman and Matt Nagy are absolutely, like, running a better offense team. with the Giants than Mike McDaniel is with the Chargers. It's actually considering the talent that they've had.

Just sitting up there in the booth next to each other.

It's been okay. It's been okay for the Giants.

They communicate. That's men that communicate. Good job, guys.

I have my doubts long-term about McCarthy, but I'm willing to give him another shot.

It would help if they had their starting tackles.

Yes, that would help.

Against the Texans.

That would help. It's been... Like, an offensive line that's been good, maybe not as great as they want to be. All right, your... I can pick some, Jordan.

Yeah, we've been talking so much about the Cowboys' defense, and rightfully so. It's the worst in the league and has been since last year.

The Cowboys' offense.

Is really struggling, too. And especially in really kind of shocking... Fashion to me, something where Dak Prescott has typically been so, so good is against the blitz, but the last couple of weeks he's been, and that whole offense has been really bad against the blitz. There are down into the negative EPA in standings right now, specifically against the blitz where, and they're only averaging 5.4 yards per attempt through the passing game. He used to be so aggressive. He pushed the ball almost eight yards per attempt previously, like last season, especially.

against the blitz specifically. And he was up, you know, among the best in the league when throwing against the blitz and he had more, he had more answers built in. To me, there's just something that's been off about this group and expectations we've talked about so much, Greg, but it really manifests here where something that was such a stalwart for this team, you know, problem solving in real time that is throwing against the blitz and it's just not happening. So For me, I just think loosening up, you know, getting, getting, just playing a little more free, perhaps the fact that the Eagles don't like to blitz a lot helps them as well. This is kind of a game that Dak Prescott will like to play in

my opinion. So I think, you know, I don't know if I can fix him or I can fix them, but that would just be my, my light suggestion is just, you know, be a little looser, build in some of those downfield throws a little bit.

More and remind them that they're in the NFC East.

Yeah.

Everyone's miserable.

Yeah.

All right, let's hear it.

Okay, wait, what is it?

I mean, she took the French. You can hear it. You can hear it in the voice.

That's good.

The Philly in my voice doesn't really help.

Quick story.

When I was in London for Eagles Jags, we had one of the London hosts with us for the game, Ellie Collins, who is delightful. And she says she said two things to me. The first thing she said was, why do all the Eagles fans look so angry? And I said, that's the that's the default. That's what that's how we are. We're born with a scowl. But she was also like, I've never heard an American say, yeah, like you. And I, and she was like, yeah. And then just, and I was, I don't hear it. I don't know if that's a thing like Miami is, but.

J'ai pu. We can fix it. Mine is a simple one. It's for Sean McVay. It's for Dan Quinn. It's really for any NFL head coach who still does not seem to be using enough resources to handle game management situations. And so I've got two options. Either one would fix it. Number one, in the off season, instead of just grinding tape all time and just planning around the clock, play like an hour of Madden a day. One hour of Madden every day, I feel like would be enough. To solve your game management.

Is it the Madden that helps or it's the time not spent.

With your family? No, it's the Madden because I feel like and I think number two on the list, which is the more likely option. Find basically any 14 year old you can. that does play Madden like seven hours a day and have them do the game management stuff because they're all better.

How much Madden have you been playing?

I play a little bit of Madden. I would not say I'm I mean, Shook literally like works for Madden sometimes. I mean, he's he's a true gamer, but I would say the average 13, 14 year old has a way better grip at every single possible situation that In two minutes with timeouts, maybe don't call four verts with 30 seconds left to go.

Yeah, but that's a David Blau issue.

That's a David Blau issue. I threw Dan Quinn in there being aware of the downs. I am not being sarcastic. And I know it's a little more pressurized when you're on the sideline. But that's why you put the 14-year-old up in the booth. They all have a much better feel of like there are rules here.

About child labor?

About how to handle game management situation. And the children will lead us. Like, if you've been playing that, you've got it.

These damn boomers and their lack of video games.

Am I right?

I think it's pretty helpful.

The future's bright. I think that's one thing I'm taking away from this. The next generation, we're going to have some really good coaches.

I can really tell you didn't sleep much last night.

My son, Walker, he's like 11, a little young, but.

Have you been pitching him to teams?

He could be an option. But I would say anyone, any of his friends that play a lot, they understand... The late situation is better than the head coaches. You know what I understand is that we're not done here. We have one more show before the big game on Sunday, Saints and Steelers. I have got Colleen and Jordan in the mix to make our picks today. maybe against the spread, which they claim that they don't understand. Maybe not, but they are going to be sitting in for Nick Shook.

Check out that show on Saturday.

We'll see you then.

Big Injury Comebacks, I Can Fix Him and ... Roger Goodell Joins the Show!

Kapitelklicken springt direkt hin

Shownotes

Transkriptvom Podcast bereitgestellt · Zeitmarken springen hin